On Friday, Mexican Marines captured Rafael Caro Quintero, wanted for the 1985 murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena and a government pilot in Guadalajara. In 2013, an appeals court in Mexico reversed Caro Quintero's conviction in Mexico, and he was set free. Subsequently, the Mexican Supreme Court reversed that decision, and Caro-Quintero was considered a fugitive in Mexico. He was already a major fugitive in the US. The arrest occurred in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.
CNN is reporting today that Mexican authorities have stated that Caro Quintero will be extradited to the US. The below article from Excelsior, one of Mexico's major newspapers, indicates that he is already in the vicinity of the border to be handed over.
As a retired DEA agent, I am overjoyed at this news. Hopefully, Caro-Quintero will be extradited to the US, and justice will be served.
*Update (July 17, 2022: There have been conflicting reports out of Mexico as to where Caro Quintero was taken after his arrest. Initially, Excelsior was reporting that he had been transported to an unspecified location near the US border in preparation for his being handed over to US authorities. It now appears that he was transported to the maximum security Altiplano prison in the State of Mexico. The US is, in fact, requesting extradition.
In addition, there have been conflicting reports about a Marine helicopter crash that occurred the same day as the arrest in Los Mochis in which 14 Marines were killed. Was this helicopter involved in the operation to capture Caro Quintero? It is not entirely clear.
The below article from Excelsior is translated by Fousesquawk. We are working on providing English subtitles from the video in the article.
Rafael Caro Quintero arrested, drug trafficker most wanted by DEA
The ex-leader of the Guadalajara cartel was arrested in Mexico by Marine units.
Raul Flores Martinez, Excelsior, Mexico City, July 15, 2022
Caption:
Rafael Caro Quintero is wanted for the murder of "Kiki" Camarena.
Rafael Caro Quintero, ex-leader of the extinct Guadalajara Cartel, was arrested Friday by elements of the Secretary of Marines of Mexico (SEMAR) and the General Prosecutor of the Republic (FDR) in San Simon in the municipality of Choix, Sinaloa.
According to information from the Security Cabinet of the Federal Government, elements of the Special Operations Unit (UNOPES), in coordination with elements of Naval Intelligence, located the drug trafficker in the municipality of Choix, where he was arrested without shots being fired.
It should be noted that the arrest warrant is for purposes of extradition, so it is confirmed that he is already at the border with (the US) to be delivered to the North American authorities.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was offering a reward of 20 million dollars for Caro Quintero (69), as he headed the list of the most wanted narco-traffickers in the entire United States.
Rafael Caro Quintero was sentenced in Mexico to 40 years in prison, but in August of 2013, when an appeals court determined (there were) technical flaws in the trial of the narco-trafficker, Caro Quintero went free in Mexico while he was being sought in the US.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, abbreviated in English), the drug trafficker occupies a position of active leadership in the Sinaloa Cartel. "He directs the activities of this cartel and the Rafael Caro Quintero organization in Badiraguato, Sinaloa,." it indicated.
The boss headed the lists of the most wanted criminals by the DEA and the FBI, due to his responsibility in the kidnapping and murder of the US anti-drug agent, Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, (which) occurred in 1985 in Guadalajara. They are offering 20 million dollars for information leading to his capture.
In August 2013, a tribunal revoked the sentence he was serving in the Puente Grande Penitentiary for the murder of Camarena and a government pilot, with the argument that his case was under local jurisdiction, not federal. Months later, the Supreme Court said ruling, thus, since then, Caro Quintero is considered a fugitive.
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