Among the extradition members of the cartel are Rafael Caro Quintero, who had sought the murder of DEA agents in 1985. The extradition comes as a US tariff on Mexican imported looms.
Mexico handed over 29 cartel members on Thursday, including a drug lord who wanted the US to kill a US agent in 1985.
It is the prisoners or other people accused of relations with violent drug cartels who have gained US custody from Mexico.
Among those handed over is Rafael Caroquintero, a drug kingpin who is said to be involved in the murder of Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agent Enrique Camarena Salazar in 1985.
Karo Quintero had previously denied any involvement in the murder. He was technically released by a Mexican judge in 2013 and returned to drug trafficking before being recaptured in 2022.
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Martz said the extradition of Karo Quintero was “very personal for the men and women of the DEA.” He believes Camarena Salazar is “bearing responsibility for the brutal torture and murder.”
“It’s a victory for the Camarena family too. Today we send a message to all cartel leaders, all traffickers, all criminals who add up all crimes to our community. You’re accountable,” he said.
They also handed over Antonio Osegera Cervantes, a brother to drug lord Nemesio Osegera Cervantes, who allegedly led the new generation of Jalisco cartel (CJNG), and Martin Sotero, who is accused of taking part in the 2022 murder of Deputy Sherif Ned Ned Bade.
The DOJ states that “leaders and managers of drug cartels, recently designated as foreign terrorist organizations, have been designated as global terrorists such as the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, Los Zetas, La Nueva Familia Michoacana and the Gulf Cartel.”
Mexico has also moved Miguel Trevino Morales and his brother Omar Trevino Morales to US authorities, leader of violent drug trafficking Los Zetas.
“As President Trump has made it clear, the cartel is a terrorist group, and the Justice Department is dedicated to destroying cartels and cross-border gangs,” Attorney General Pamela Bondy said. “We will not rest until we ensure justice for the American people.”
Rafael Caro Quintero, a Mexican cartel figure, will be escorted by FBI agents to arrive in US soil at a New York airport on February 27, 2025. Distribution materials via Reuters
Taxes scheduled for March 4th
Trump said Thursday that he would impose a 25% tariff on all Mexico’s imports starting March 4th, saying the US has not done enough to curb the flow of fentanyl and immigration.
“We cannot allow this tragedy to do harm to the United States, so the tariffs that are scheduled to come into effect on March 4 will actually be enacted on schedule until they are suspended or seriously limited,” Trump said.
Mexican Foreign Trade Minister Louis Rosend Gutierrez and his team met with US officials in Washington on Wednesday to discuss improving trade relations between the two countries.
Gutierrez told reporters that his team was working to reach an agreement with the US government on tariffs.
Matthew Horwood and Reuters contributed to this report.
