Trial against drug lord "El Chapo" in New York

New York (DPA) – About two years after being delivered to the United States, the trial of Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán began in New York.

The court began Monday to select twelve jurors, who were to decide, for security reasons, anonymously the fate of Guzmán. For starters, about 40 prospective jurors should first be interviewed.

"El Chapo" appeared in a blue jacket and a white shirt. The security around the court in the Brooklyn district of New York was extremely high. In front of the building, dozens of journalists and spectators gathered in the sad climate of autumn under the drizzle.

The selection of the jury is likely to take several days. The prelude to the preliminary statement is scheduled for Tuesday in a week (November 13). Judge Brian Cogan says the trial will take several months.

El Chapo, 61, has earned billions, according to the prosecution for drug trafficking and other illegal activities. However, the war on drugs in Mexico continues to rage without him. A dozen prosecutors sit in New York and 16 witnesses put them in situation. Guzmán hired several star defenders. The Brooklyn Court is considered an institution fighting organized crime.

In 2017, "El Chapo" was delivered to the United States. Since then, he has been held 24 hours a day in Manhattan's maximum security prison, in a 15-square-meter, windowless cell. There are only exceptions during the week when he is allowed to use a treadmill and a bike trainer one hour a day. The result is depression and hallucinations, his lawyers warned. In Mexico, he had previously led several spectacular prisons.

If he is found guilty, he faces a life sentence. The death penalty is prescribed after an agreement between Mexico and the United States.

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