Mexico extradites 13 alleged drug traffickers to US

Mexico has extradited to the United States 13 alleged drug traffickers, including a high-profile suspect nicknamed 'La Barbie,' authorities said Wednesday.

"We have carried out the extraditions of 13 individuals ... on court extradition requests from several jurisdictions in the United States," said Tomas Zeron, who leads the criminal investigation unit at the Justice Ministry.

Among those sent to the United States for trial was former US-Mexican henchman of the Beltran-Leyva cartel, Edgar Valdez Villarreal, alias "La Barbie," Zeron said.

Another of the suspects was Jorge Costilla, alias "El Coss," Zeron added.

The United States had also been seeking the extradition of fugitive drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman after his arrest in February 2014. But Mexico said no, opting to try him at home.

Guzman, 58, has been a fugitive since he slipped out of prison through a tunnel on July 11. Just 17 months had gone by since he had been captured.

President Enrique Pena Nieto's decision to try Guzman in Mexico instead of immediately extraditing him to the United States last year has come under scrutiny since the escape.

The powerful Sinaloa drug cartel kingpin also broke out of a maximum security prison in 2001 and was captured in February 2014 after a 13-year manhunt.

Source: AFP