𝗗𝗢𝗝, 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗠𝗘𝗫𝗜𝗖𝗢 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗟 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢 𝗨.𝗦.

                    by "Sol Prendido" of Borderland Beat

On September 18, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) thanked the Government of Mexico, including the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) and the Attorney General's Office (FGR), for extraditing Ovidio Guzmán López, alias "El Ratón", son of Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, "El Chapo", as well as alleged leader of "Los Chapitos", "Los Menores" and/or "Los Chiquillos".

Through a press release, the U.S. DOJ indicated that on the same day, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland spoke by telephone with his Mexican counterpart Alejandro Gertz Manero, to express his gratitude for "successfully" extraditing Guzmán López.

On September 18, 2023, Keneth Lee Salazar, head of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, also expressed his appreciation to the Mexican and U.S. agents who participated in the capture and extradition of "El Raton".

The U.S. diplomat assured, through a statement, that the U.S. and Mexican governments were working together to address the security issues that most concerned both countries and to protect citizens from criminals and fentanyl.

"We honor the men and women in law enforcement in the United States and Mexico whose commitment brought 'El Raton,' Ovidio Guzman, to justice on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and other violent crimes. We honor the memory of the 12 Mexican soldiers from the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) who died in his arrest," said Salazar.

The U.S. diplomat also acknowledged the 14 members of the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) who died when the helicopter in which they were traveling crashed following the capture of Sinaloa drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, alias "El Principe" - founder of the now-defunct Guadalajara Cartel - on July 15, 2022.

"The United States is committed to working with Mexico on his extradition to hold him accountable for his crimes [...] We recognize the commitment of U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials working on our shared security to ensure that our people are safe and to prosecute those who commit crimes," Salazar emphasized.