Mexico on Friday agreed to extradite drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman to the United States where he faces narcotics and murder charges, the foreign ministry said.
The announcement follows a series of dramatic escapades by El Chapo or “Shorty” Guzman, 59, considered the world’s most wanted drug boss as leader of the Sinaloa cartel.
“The Mexican government grants his international extradition to the government of the United States of America for him to be tried,” the ministry said in a statement.
Guzman escaped from a top-security jail in July 2015 and was recaptured in January.
Police caught him after a colorful episode involving a US-Mexican soap opera actress and the Hollywood star Sean Penn, who met with Guzman in hiding.
The ministry said it had approved the extradition after receiving assurances from the US government that Guzman would not face the death penalty if convicted, since he could not receive such a punishment under Mexican law.
It said it had notified the suspect’s lawyers of the agreement to extradite Guzman, who is wanted by courts in California and Texas.
Guzman’s legal team has a month to appeal against the decision before it is carried out.