The Mexican government announced on Thursday the transfer of nearly 30 prominent cartel operatives, including a notorious drug lord sought by U.S. authorities for 40 years, to the United States. This action marks a significant effort by Mexico in the ongoing drug war to allow traffickers to face charges in American federal courts.
The handover coincided with a high-level delegation from Mexico arriving in Washington to negotiate a security agreement amidst rising tensions between the two nations. While the U.S. government refrained from immediate public comments, the Mexican foreign ministry confirmed the release of the cartel figures.
According to the statement, “This action is part of the work of coordination, cooperation, and bilateral reciprocity within the framework of respect for the sovereignty of both nations.” Among those transferred was Rafael Caro Quintero, a founding member of the Sinaloa drug cartel, convicted in Mexico for the 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena. Additionally, Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, a former leader of the Zetas cartel, was also released into U.S. custody.
The recent weeks have seen the U.S. administration applying significant diplomatic and economic pressure on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, threatening tariffs and potential military action against drug cartels. During a joint press conference on Thursday, President Trump emphasized the ongoing drug crisis, stating, “The drugs continue to pour into our country, killing hundreds of thousands of people.”
The decision to extradite the cartel operatives has been praised by U.S. law enforcement as a major victory and an indication of cooperation from President Sheinbaum in addressing cartel-related issues. Ray Donovan, former chief of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, described the moment as a “true turning point” in collaboration between the two nations.
The capture of Quintero has long been a focus for DEA officials. After his release from Mexican custody due to a legal technicality in 2013, he evaded capture until being apprehended again in 2022. He faces multiple drug trafficking charges and could appear before a federal judge in Brooklyn as early as Friday. Treviño, also known as Z-40, is recognized as one of Mexico’s most violent cartel members and holds pending drug charges in multiple federal courts in Texas.