1 of 3 | Zhenli Ye Gon, a Chinese-born Mexican businessman accused in a massive methamphetamine scheme, is being held in the same Mexico City federal prison from which notorious drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman escaped last year. Ye Gon was extradited from the United States to Mexico on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Attorney General of Mexico
MEXICO CITY, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The United States extradited Zhenli Ye Gon, a Chinese-born Mexican businessman accused in a massive methamphetamine scheme, to Mexico.
U.S. Marshals escorted Ye Gon from Virginia to Mexico City, where he was handed over to Mexican officials on Tuesday.
Ye Gon, who was born in Shanghai, was arrested in the United States in 2007 after fleeing from Mexico when Mexican federal police seized about $205 million from his home. He is accused of importing massive quantities of chemicals to produce methamphetamine through his company, Unimed Pharm Chem Mexico.
"In compliance with the extradition treaty between the two countries today, the fugitive from Mexican justice, Ye Gon, was delivered through extradition by the authorities of the government of the United States of America, to our country," the Attorney General of Mexico said in a statement, adding that Ye Gon "is considered likely responsible for the commission of offenses: organized crime, against health, possession of a firearm exclusive use of the army, navy and air force and operations with illegal proceeds."
Zhenli has denied the charges, saying his company produced legal prescription medications. Mexico issued a formal extradition request in 2008, which was granted by a U.S. judge in 2011 but he filed several appeals under U.S. laws.
The Attorney General of Mexico released a video of Ye Gon's arrival and departure via helicopter to the Altiplano Federal Prison, from where notorious drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman made an infamous escape in 2015.