Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the son of Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, appeared Tuesday before a federal judge in Mexico to be notified about the formal extradition request by the United States government.

According to Borderland Beat, sources familiar with the matter said the proceedings were done through a video conference at the Federal Criminal Justice Center in the town of Almoloya de Juarez in the State of Mexico.

After the hearing, Ovidio's legal team can file for a writ of amparo in an effort to keep him on Mexican soil and block his extradition to the U.S., where he will face charges in a Washington D.C. court that accused him of trafficking drugs. 

More than a month after his arrest, a judge based in Sonora released an arrest warrant against El Chapo's son. The warrant was issued for his crimes in Mexico in the past years.

Ovidio is currently imprisoned in Altiplano maximum security federal prison in Almoloya de Juarez municipality. The U.S. formally requested his extradition on February 27.

The U.S. Embassy's legal representative in Mexico presented the extradition request to the foreign ministry and attorney general's office.

It was the deadline week for the U.S. government to formally ask for the extradition of Ovidio, who is known to have led the Sinaloa Cartel amid his father's absence.

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Arrest of El Chapo's Son, Ovidio Guzman Lopez

Military troops arrested Ovidio Guzman Lopez at his home in the Jesus Maria community in Culiacan, Sinaloa, last January 5. During the violent operation to capture him, at least 29 people were killed.

Mexican police noted that 10 soldiers and 19 individuals suspected to be Sinaloa Cartel members were killed during and after the arrest of El Chapo's son. 

Aside from the deaths, BBC reported that 35 military personnel were injured and 21 gunmen were arrested. Immediately after Ovidio was apprehended, Sinaloa Cartel gunmen set up roadblocks, set fire to vehicles, and clashed with authorities.

They also shot at commercial planes in what appeared to be an attempt to stop officers from taking their boss elsewhere. The gunfight reportedly lasted for more than 10 hours.

After his arrest, Ovidio was immediately taken to the Altiplano maximum security prison. Last month, Ovidio, through his relatives, apologized to the people of Jesus Maria for the damage and terror brought about by his arrest and the chaos that happened afterward.

His relatives told Milenio that El Chapo's son said he was "sorry" and wanted this message to be passed or spread throughout the rural community as there was still fear because of what happened.

Many residents reportedly remained traumatized by the ordeal, while some expressed dismay over the state government because the support promised to them has yet to arrive.

A month after the operation to capture El Chapo's son occurred, the streets of Jesus Maria were reportedly still empty and spent shellings could still be found near the house of Ovidio.

Reports said there was also a military presence in the town, with a checkpoint installed at the entrance. The Mexican army also deployed food distribution and medical services to the community.

El Chapo's Sons: The Los Chapitos of Sinaloa Cartel

The four sons of El Chapo, known as Los Chapitos, had reportedly assumed leadership roles in the Sinaloa Cartel after their father was arrested and extradited to the U.S. 

Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar are collectively known as Los Chapitos.

Under their leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel has continued to be one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels. The U.S. State Department has offered $5 million rewards for any information that could help federal agents arrest El Chapo's four sons.

The State Department said the Los Chapitos are high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel and are each subject to a federal indictment for their involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Ovidio, born in 1990, is the youngest of four brothers on the State Department list. As young as 18, he reportedly took over the drug business in 2008 when his older brother, Edgar Guzman Lopez, was assassinated in a Culiacan supermarket. 

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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