US judge will not dismiss accused Mexican drug lord El Chapo’s indictment
NEW YORK: A US judge on Friday rejected an effort by Joaquin Guzman, the accused Mexican drug lord known as ‘El Chapo’, to dismiss a massive international narcotics conspiracy indictment on the ground he was extradited improperly to Brooklyn.
While not challenging the merits of the case, Guzman’s lawyers claimed that the indictment violated the extradition treaty between the US and Mexico because Mexican authorities initially agreed to extradite their client only to southern California or western Texas.
The lawyers questioned how Mexico could have suddenly consented to have US authorities hurry Guzman to Brooklyn in New York City to face charges other than those for which his extradition had been sought, violating the so-called Rule of Specialty.
But in a brief order, US District Judge Brian Cogan said Guzman had no legal right to challenge the Brooklyn indictment because Mexico had not objected to it.
Cogan also said the federal appeals court in Manhattan, whose jurisdiction includes the Brooklyn courthouse, upheld this principle in late July in an unrelated case.
“Here, there is no protest or objection by Mexico, nor is there an express provision in the extradition treaty between the United States and Mexico,” Cogan wrote. “Therefore, defendant’s motion to dismiss the indictment based on an alleged Rule of Specialty violation is denied.” — Reuters