Guzman not likely to be in US court soon

(Agencies) Updated: 2014-02-24 13:27

Calderon routinely touted his administration's fight against the criminal gangs and sent thousands of police and military troops to various hot spots around the country to take them on. But Pena Nieto, who took office in late 2012, has been more muted on the criminal enterprises, instead championing other domestic concerns, including the economy and education.

Guzman's arrest by Mexican federal forces with the help of the DEA, the US Marshal Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement is already seen as one of the biggest achievements for Pena Nieto's young administration. And he may not want to relinquish the win quickly.

"It's my personal opinion that they are going to say they want to hang on to him simply because of that fact that he is the crown jewel of the Pena Nieto administration, in terms of their counterdrug efforts," said Michael Vigil, a former senior DEA agent who has worked in Mexico and has been briefed on Guzman's arrest.

House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul said Sunday that extraditing such a high profile suspect before he was tried in Mexico would be unusual, but such an exception might be warranted in this case.

"I think the concern is the fact that he's already broken out of prison once," McCaul, a Texas Republican, said on ABC's "This Week."

McCaul said he worried that corruption and Guzman's status as one of the most powerful and feared men in Mexico could lead to a short-lived prison stay.

"This is a great victory for both Mexico and the United States," McCaul said. "It signifies a new era in our cooperation. But I would argue the extradition would continue that cooperation."

Whatever the final decision, Vigil said it's not likely to be made quickly.

"It goes through a lot of legal reviews, and then obviously Chapo Guzman is going to have some of the best attorneys in Mexico and will try to impede the effort," Vigil said. "It's not going to be overnight."