International Drug Smuggler’s Face Extradition

On Wednesday, a federal grand jury charged 35 people with smuggling cocaine and methamphetamine to the United States and returning to Mexico with the cash from the sale of the smuggled drugs. The defendant’s are believed to be in operation with Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel which allegedly supplied the drugs from Mexicali, Mexico into Southern California, just east of San Diego.

The defendants include U.S. and Mexican citizens. To date, nineteen defendants have been arrested. Nine others were believed to be at-large in Mexico and seven were believed to be at-large in the United States. The U.S. will seek extradition for those who were arrested Wednesday in Mexicali by Mexican authorities.

Extradition is the process by which the surrender of a suspected or convicted criminal is obtained from one nation or state against another nation or state that is in possession of the suspected offender. Any person who, while present in the demanding state, commits a crime there and is subsequently found in any other state is a “fugitive from justice” and is subject to extradition.

Only persons charged with a crime are subject to extradition. This includes: persons convicted and alleged to have escaped form confinement; persons charged with a crime who violated terms of bail; persons on probation or parole who violated the terms of their probation or parole; and persons who have not satisfied the criminal judgment against them.

Extradition between two States (of the United States) is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution (codified in the federal statutes as the “Federal Act”). However, the “Federal Act” and subsequent, expanded statutes of the various states may be limited in scope. If you have been accused of committing a crime in California and are now outside of the state or country, you may be facing extradition proceedings. You need the assistance of a competent lawyer to ensure your rights are protected and that you receive due process. The criminal defense lawyers at Houston & Blanco can assist with your extradition proceedings and handle any criminal accusations against you. Call TODAY! Do NOT wait! Call the Orange County criminal defense attorneys of Houston & Blanco at 714.841.3921 or email at info@HBLawyers.net .