Mexico Releases Caro Quintero

Enrique Camarena

Today marks a sad day for DEA. It appears that Rafael Caro-Quintero, the vicious drug trafficker who led the abduction, torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique Camareno and his Mexican pilot in 1985, is being released from a Mexican prison by a judge's order after 28 years incarceration.


http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/08/09/mexico-overturns-conviction-drug-kingpin-caro-quintero/?test=latestnews

Of course, there will always be speculation as to whether someone in Mexico was bought off to bring about this release. Privately, I have always wondered if Caro-Quintero was really in prison as we know the concept of incarceration or what arrangements he had been able to buy.

I can hope that a way can be found to bring him to stand trial in the US for this horrific murder, but I don't have that much hope.

It is easy to be angry at Mexico, but let's face it: These things happen in our country as well, maybe not due to bribery and corruption, rather liberal judges such as the ones who are forcing California to release thousands of dangerous criminals from prison as we speak because of "over-crowding".

Either way, it is a sad day on both sides of the border. A really evil guy is walking free in Mexico.

Update: Below are statements from the Association of Former Federal Narcotics Agents (of which I am a member) and DEA.

Dear AFFNA Member: Today I received a request from the NY Times to provide a comment in the name of AFFNA on a recent story coming out of Mexico.  It seems that a court in Mexico has ruled that the murderer of Enrique Camarena, Rafael Caro-Quintero, be released from prison; ruling that his conviction was flawed. Working with your AFFNA President, Joe Gutensohn, the NY Times was provided the follow: The Association of Former Federal Narcotics Agents (AFFNA) is outraged at this unconscionable travesty coming out of the Mexican court system.  At no time should Rafael Caro-Quintero see the light of day as a free man.  We find it astounding that after 28 years his guilt should still be at issue.  This heinous crime was indeed a low point in US/Mexico relations.  The release of this violent butcher is but another example of how good faith efforts by the US to work with the Mexican government can be frustrated by those powerful dark forces that work in the shadows of the Mexican “justice” system. AFFNA will now demand that the US government ask for Caro-Quintero’s extradition to the US so he can be given the justice he so richly deserves. Joel Gutensohn President I then received the following press release from DEA HQS: DEA Statement on Release of Rafael Caro-Quintero from Mexican Prison The Drug Enforcement Administration is deeply troubled to learn of the decision by a Mexican court to release infamous drug trafficker Rafael Caro-Quintero from a Mexican prison.  Caro-Quintero had been serving a 40 year prison sentence in connection with the kidnapping, torture and murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in February 1985.  Caro-Quintero was the mastermind and organizer of this atrocious act.  We are reminded every day of the ultimate sacrifice paid by Special Agent Camarena and DEA will vigorously continue its efforts to ensure Caro-Quintero faces charges in the United States for the crimes he committed.   Feel free to let your elected public officials know how you feel about this news. David G. Wilson Executive Director, AFFNA