Signaling Shift, Mexico Extradites Top Drug Kingpins to United States Azam Ahmed - The New York Times
go to original October 1, 2015

Mexico has handed over two high ranking cartel suspects to the US in the wake of last July's embarrassing prison escape by one of the county's most wanted men. (euronews)

The Mexican government extradited several top drug kingpins to the United States on Wednesday, signaling a change of heart after the stunning escape of Joaquín Guzmán Loera this summer from the nation’s most secure prison.

Among the 13 people who were extradited are two top drug lords, including an American citizen, Edgar Valdez Villarreal, also known as “La Barbie,” as well as others charged with participating in the murders of an American consulate worker and an American immigration and customs agent.

The extradition of the men, many of whom had been imprisoned for years in Mexico, is a change in tactics for the government. Since President Enrique Peña Nieto came to power in 2012, his government has adopted more of an arms-length approach to the United States on security co-operation than the previous government did. This has often meant taking a more assertive stance in matters of sovereignty, which has included a reluctance to cede control of prisoners to the United States.

Indeed, just weeks before Mr. Guzmán’s escape from prison, the United States issued a formal request for his extradition. In the immediate aftermath of his escape, as the Mexican government pondered an offer of unconditional help from the Americans, the frustration between the allies grew.

Wednesday’s move, however, appeared to be intended to show a warming of relations, and perhaps a fear of more embarrassment if another prisoner escaped.

Read the rest at The New York Times

Related: El Chapo Guzman: New Arrest Order for Extradition to US Issued (teleSUR)

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