MEXICO CITY — A high-profile extradition has taken place as Mexico has handed over Rafael Caro Quintero, a notorious drug lord, to U.S. authorities. Known for his involvement in the 1985 murder of a U.S. DEA agent, Caro Quintero was extradited alongside 28 other prisoners at the request of the United States government, an official from the Mexican government stated on Thursday.
The official, who preferred to remain unnamed due to restrictions on discussing the case publicly, confirmed Caro Quintero’s handover. In a statement from Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office, it was revealed that the 29 individuals extradited were facing various charges, primarily connected to drug trafficking among other criminal activities.
This move by Mexico is seen as a strategic effort to counter potential economic consequences from the United States. President Donald Trump had previously hinted at imposing stringent 25% tariffs on Mexican imports, which might be enacted in the upcoming week.
Caro Quintero was re-apprehended by Mexican authorities in 2022, decades after his initial crimes brought him into international infamy.
