Mexico has extradited notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero and 28 cartel members to the United States, as announced by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Caro Quintero, considered the founder of the Guadalajara cartel, is implicated in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena Salazar in 1985, reportedly as retaliation for a raid on his marijuana farm.
After serving 28 years in prison for the murder, Caro Quintero was released in 2013, though the Mexican Supreme Court later overturned this release. He resumed drug trafficking as a leader of the Sinaloa cartel.
Captured by the Mexican Navy in July 2022 during a fatal operation, Caro Quintero was found hiding in bushes by a Navy dog.
🔴#ÚltimaHora | El narcotraficante Rafael Caro Quintero llega a Nueva York tras ser extraditado por el Gobierno de México; un operativo de la DEA lo recibió esposado.
Fiscalía de EE.UU. busca condenarlo con pena de muerte junto a dos líderes de Los Zetas y 25 criminales más. pic.twitter.com/kFjrNRkLW4
— Pedro Márquez (@PedroMrquez_) February 28, 2025
Derek S. Maltz of the DEA emphasized the significance of this extradition for justice, particularly for the Camarena family, stating, “You will be held accountable. No matter how long it takes, justice will find you.”
The extradited individuals include cartel operatives linked to various drug trafficking organizations, including the CJNG and Los Zetas, among others.
