Mexican judge denies El Chapo's appeals against extradition

Mexico's Attorney General's office says a federal judge in Mexico has denied drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's appeals against extradition to the United States, but Guzman could still appeal to a higher court.

In a statement Thursday, the Attorney General's office said the judge denied two of the appeals and threw out the other three.

Last week, Mexico's national security commissioner said that Guzman could be extradited in January or February. He is wanted on drug trafficking and other charges in the U.S.

The leader of the Sinaloa cartel escaped from a maximum-security prison in 2015 and was recaptured in January. He is currently imprisoned in the northern border state of Chihuahua.