Mexican finance, security departments jointly dealing with case against drug lord Guzman

Mexico's Finance Ministry is working "hand in hand" with the security cabinet to help bring drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to justice, media reported on Monday.

"The different departments of the Finance Ministry, including the SAT (internal revenue service) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), are working every day hand in hand with the PGR (Attorney General's Office) and other cabinet-level security agencies," Finance Minister Luis Videgaray was quoted by state news agency Notimex as saying.

"The PGR will release the information when the time comes," he added.

The government strategy targets Guzman's vast wealth, which enabled him to have effectively evaded justice.

Guzman, head of the powerful Sinaloa drug Cartel, is again in custody after breaking out of a prison of the highest security level for a second time in July. He was recaptured on Friday.

But his fate remains uncertain. His legal team fights extradition proceedings requested by the United States. Mexicans are currently debating whether Guzman should stand trial at home or abroad.

Those in favor of trying him at home argue that it would demonstrate the capability of Mexico's legal system in handling such a case. Others believe Guzman is more than capable of bribing his way out of a maximum-level security facility one more time, if he is detained in Mexico.

On Sunday, the PGR formally launched the process of extraditing Guzman to the United States, which could take up to a year as his lawyers are trying to keep their client in Mexico. Endi