The Region - News from March 14, 1986

Attorneys for former Mexico City Police Chief Arturo Durazo filed an emergency petition with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to block his extradition to Mexico to stand trial on illegal weapons and extortion charges. The appeal was filed in an attempt to overturn an extradition ruling issued earlier this week by U.S. District Judge Matt Byrne Jr. in Los Angeles, who stayed his order so it could be appealed. Federal prosecutors said Durazo could be sent back to his homeland almost immediately if the appeals court refuses to intervene. Durazo, 68, is accused by Mexican authorities of becoming wealthy through extortion and bribes of men under his command while he was chief between 1976 and 1982.