Rafael Caro Quintero extradited to US with 28 cartel members
High-security extradition: Mexican cartel suspects transferred to the US (Photo: Getty Images)
Mexico has extradited 29 alleged drug cartel members to the United States, marking one of the largest extraditions in the country’s history. Among them is Rafael Caro Quintero, a notorious drug lord wanted in the US for the murder of DEA agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena in 1985, according to BBC.
Caro Quintero was initially arrested and sentenced in Mexico for his role in Camarena's kidnapping, torture, and murder, which strained US-Mexico relations in the 1980s. However, his unexpected release in 2013 on a legal technicality sparked outrage in the US, leading to renewed efforts for his capture. After years on the run, he was recaptured by Mexican authorities in 2022, paving the way for his extradition to face justice in the United States.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, "As President Trump has made clear, cartels are terrorist groups, and this Department of Justice is devoted to destroying cartels and transnational gangs." She emphasized the commitment to prosecute these criminals “to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers – and in some cases, given their lives – to protect innocent people from the scourge of violent cartels.”
Rafael Caro Quintero, Mexican drug lord extradited to the US (Photo: fbi.gov)
DEA Acting Administrator Derek Maltz celebrated the extradition as a "victory for the Camarena family" and declared, "Today sends a message to every cartel leader, every trafficker, every criminal poisoning our communities: You will be held accountable. No matter how long it takes, no matter how far you run, justice will find you."
US-Mexico relations
During the presidential race and after becoming the US President, Donald Trump pointed out the US-Mexico border issue as crucial and planned to deploy 10,000 troops to the border to strengthen security and curb illegal crossings.
It also comes as US-Mexico relations face challenges over immigration, with over 20,000 illegal migrants arrested during Trump's first month in office.
Meanwhile, Mexico is considering constitutional amendments that could influence bilateral cooperation, particularly in security and immigration policies.
