Mexico has reportedly started the process for the extradition of drug lord JoaquÃn Guzmán Loera, better known as El Chapo, to the United States.
El Chapo was recaptured last Friday, six months after his daring escape from Mexico's most secure prison. He has been kept in the same Altiplano high-security prison after his recapture.
Mexican officials formally started the process for his extradition on Sunday, The Associated Press reported. The Mexican criminal is wanted in the US where he is facing seven indictments on charges ranging from drug-trafficking to murder.
The extradition requests by the US, which were filed on 25 June and 3 September, will be processed in a fresh start after Guzman's recapture, as per Mexican law. It is likely to take at least six months before the drug lord can be extradited, Mexican law officials told AP.
Guzman was informed on Sunday by the Interpol that he was wanted in the US, Mexico's Attorney General's Office reportedly said in a statement.
However, defence lawyers are said to have filed at least six motions to challenge the requests for his extradition.
While Mexico had earlier resisted extradition requests after arresting Guzman in 2014, his daring prison break through a hole dug in the shower floor in his cell and his escape on a modified motorbike through a mile-long tunnel had left the government humiliated.
El Chapo was caught in a raid by Mexican Marines special forces in the Los Mochis area in his home state of Sinaloa on Friday, and Mexican authorities have suggested that the drug trafficker's interview with Hollywood actor Sean Penn helped track him down.
The actor published his rare interview with Guzman when the latter was on the run, and had said that he sensed they were being spied on. Guzman was reportedly keen on having a movie based on his life.
