Caro Quintero, Los Zetas Leaders Among 29 Drug Traffickers Sent to U.S. by Mexico
In a major cross-border crackdown, Mexico has extradited 29 high-profile criminals, including notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, to the United States. The move comes as Mexican officials engage in critical trade and security negotiations with the Trump administration, aiming to prevent looming U.S. tariffs.
A Mexican government official confirmed that the extradition list includes Caro Quintero, who was responsible for the 1985 kidnapping and murder of U.S. DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, and two leaders of the Los Zetas cartel, Miguel and Omar Treviño Morales (Z-40 and Z-42).
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office stated that the 29 individuals extradited face serious criminal charges in the U.S., including drug trafficking, organized crime, firearms offenses, and money laundering.
The move coincides with Mexico’s diplomatic push in Washington, where Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente and top economic and military officials are in discussions with U.S. representatives. The high-stakes negotiations come just days before the March 4 deadline set by President Donald Trump to impose 25% tariffs on all Mexican imports, which experts warn could send Mexico into recession.
In recent months, Trump has pressured Mexico to tighten border security, crack down on cartels, and combat fentanyl production. The extradition of these top cartel figures signals Mexico’s commitment to cooperation, as both nations work toward a final trade and security agreement.
Caro Quintero, once the leader of the Guadalajara Cartel, was captured in 2022 after returning to the drug trade and fueling violent conflicts in northern Mexico.
The Treviño Morales brothers, leaders of the Los Zetas cartel, were first arrested in 2013 and 2015 but continued to exert control from prison. They face multiple U.S. charges for criminal organization leadership, drug trafficking, weapons violations, and money laundering.
The extradition process has dragged on for years, with former Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero calling the delays “truly shameful.”
While the Trump administration has not yet responded to the extraditions, officials believe this move could help ease tensions ahead of the March 4 tariff deadline.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other North American leaders are closely watching the U.S.-Mexico trade talks, as potential tariffs could have ripple effects across the continent.