Drug Lord Rafael Caro Quintero Pleads Not Guilty in Killing of DEA Agent
Not Guilty Plea Entered by Caro Quintero
Dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, the 72-year-old Caro Quintero spoke little during the brief proceeding as his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Accused of Orchestrating DEA Agent’s Killing
Prosecutors say Caro Quintero blamed Camarena for a raid on a huge marijuana plantation and had the agent kidnapped, tortured and killed as revenge.
Family of DEA Agent Thanks President Trump and Authorities
“For 14,631 days, we held on to hope — hope that this moment would come. Hope that we would live to see accountability. And now, that hope has finally turned into reality,” Camarena’s family said Friday in a statement thanking President Donald Trump and everyone who worked on the case.
Caro Quintero’s History as a Drug Lord
Caro Quintero, as head of the Guadalajara cartel, “pioneered drug trafficking routes to Colombia, Mexico, and into the United States,” Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney John Durham said outside court.
Indictment Accuses Caro Quintero of Running a Criminal Network
He was 28 years into a 40-year sentence in Mexico when an appeals court overturned his sentence in 2013. Mexico’s Supreme Court later upheld it, but by then, Caro Quintero had been released and was in the wind.
Cairo Quintero’s Arrest and Extradition
Washington sought his extradition immediately after his 2022 arrest, which happened days after a White House meeting between then-President Joe Biden and his Mexican counterpart, then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Conclusion
The extradition of Rafael Caro Quintero and other Mexican prisoners to the United States is a significant step in bringing to justice those responsible for the death of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. The case is a reminder of the ongoing struggle against drug trafficking and organized crime, and the importance of international cooperation in combating these issues.
FAQs
* Who is Rafael Caro Quintero?
+ Rafael Caro Quintero is a Mexican drug cartel boss accused of orchestrating the 1985 killing of a U.S. federal agent.
* What is the background of Caro Quintero?
+ Caro Quintero was the head of the Guadalajara cartel and “pioneered drug trafficking routes to Colombia, Mexico, and into the United States.”
* What is the significance of his extradition?
+ The extradition of Caro Quintero and other Mexican prisoners to the United States is a significant step in bringing to justice those responsible for the death of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.
* What is the current status of the case?
+ Caro Quintero has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
