Rafael Caro Quintero was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list in 2018, with a reward of up to $20 million offered for information leading to his capture.
On Thursday, Mexican authorities confirmed the extradition of 29 prisoners requested by the U.S. government, part of an agreement to prevent the imposition of a 25% tariff on all Mexican imports, which President Donald Trump had proposed to begin on March 4. Among the most notable individuals being sent to the U.S. is Caro Quintero, a notorious drug lord and co-founder of the now-defunct Guadalajara Cartel. He was involved in the 1985 murder of U.S. DEA agent Kiki Camarena, a case widely known due to its portrayal in the Netflix series Narcos. The U.S. now intends to seek the death penalty or life imprisonment for him.
Mexico’s Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero stated that the 29 individuals extradited on February 27 face various charges, including drug trafficking.
Among those being sent to the U.S. are Miguel and Omar Treviño Morales, leaders of the Los Zetas cartel. Former DEA Chief of International Operations, Mike Vigil, called the extradition a historic event and a major victory for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Caro Quintero, also known as “El Narco de Narcos,” co-founded the Guadalajara Cartel in the late 1970s with Miguel Ángel Felix Gallardo. He was convicted for the 1985 murder of DEA agent Kiki Camarena but was released in 2013 after a court overturned his 40-year sentence. He was arrested again in 2022 in Sinaloa. During his time at large, Caro Quintero established the Caborca Cartel, which operates in various Mexican states, including Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur, and Chihuahua. The cartel is currently in conflict with the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and La Unión Tepito over control of territories.
In exchange for delaying the 25% tariff on Mexican imports, President Trump had demanded that Mexico intensify efforts against cartels, illegal immigration, and fentanyl production. The extradition of Caro Quintero coincided with a visit to the U.S. by Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente, who met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A source familiar with the matter told the AP that DEA Administrator Derek Maltz provided the White House with a list of nearly 30 top Mexican criminal targets, with Caro Quintero being the most sought after.
His case will be handled in the Eastern District of New York, where federal prosecutors will assess whether charges of terrorism and violence are warranted under Executive Orders 14157 and 14164, potentially making him eligible for the death penalty.
