By Steve Neavling
Ovidio Guzman Lopez, a son of former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, has been extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking, money laundering and other charges, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced in a statement.
Garland called Guzman a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, a notorious drug trafficking syndicate.
“This action is the most recent step in the Justice Department’s effort to attack every aspect of the cartel’s operations,” Garland said.
Mexico extradited Guzman about nine months after his arrest, a U.S. law enforcement officer told NBC News.
Guzman’s father, the former leader of the cartel, was sentenced to life in prison in the U.S. in July 2019.
Despite his arrest and conviction, the cartel remained strong and was led by his sons Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman and Jesus Alfredo Guzman, the DEA said last year.
“The fight against the cartels has involved incredible courage by United States law enforcement and Mexican law enforcement and military servicemembers, many of whom have given their lives in the pursuit of justice,” Garland said. “I am grateful to them and to the Department’s prosecutors for their work and their sacrifice. I am also grateful to our Mexican government counterparts for this extradition. The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic that has devastated too many communities across the country.”
