Mexico approves U.S. extradition of 'El Chapo'

Mexico approved the extradition of drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán to the U.S. on Friday. The U.S. apparently guaranteed he would not face the death penalty, which is not used in Mexico, ABC News reports.

The two-time prison escapee has 30 days to appeal the decision made by the Mexican foreign ministry. Should he do so, it could be months before El Chapo is transferred to the U.S. from a jail in northern Mexico, USA Today reports.

The U.S. has sought his extradition on charges of conspiracy, organized crime, weapons possession, murder, money laundering, and cocaine trafficking, though The Guardian reports prosecutors have quietly dropped murder charges from the list.