Obama congratulates Mexican President Peña Nieto for recapture of El Chapo

Mexico City, Jan 16 (EFE).- United States President Barack Obama Friday congratulated his Mexican counterpart Enrique Peña Nieto for the recapture of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the result of “efficient work” in the fight against drug trafficking, the Mexican Presidency said.

In a telephone conversation Friday, Obama “emphasized that this brave action was the result of the efficient work and the commitment of President Peña Nieto to combat organized crime and drug trafficking,” the Mexican government said in a statement.

At the same time, Peña Nieto “reiterated that combatting drug trafficking and criminal organizations is a firm and resolute conviction of his government”, and thanked Obama for the collaboration between U.S. agencies and his country’s forces.

The Mexican President stressed the importance of maintaining a common front against the scourge of organized crime.

The leader of the Sinaloa cartel was recaptured one week ago in the city of Los Mochis, in northwestern Mexico, six months after having escaped for the second time from the country’s maximum security prison.

The escape from the Altiplano prison through a 1.5 km (0.9 miles) tunnel, with the help of prison officials, initially sparked harsh criticism from the United States, where El Chapo faces numerous charges for drug trafficking, money laundering and murder.

The process to hand El Chapo over to U.S. authorities began last weekend after Interpol formalized two arrest warrants issued for the extradition of the drug lord.

Although the process is expected to take several years, this time the Mexican government is willing to send El Chapo to the U.S. in a sudden shift in policy since the druglord’s previous arrest in February 2014.

During the telephone call, Peña Nieto also congratulated Obama on his recent and last State of the Union speech “as well as the progress of his administration”.

Both leaders also discussed issues related to immigration and “reaffirmed the importance of all aspects of the bilateral relationship”, according to the Mexican presidency. EFE

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Category: Daily Witness, National