Mexico extradites top cartel leader in historic US handover
Mexico has extradited drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero and 28 other imprisoned gangsters to the USA, as announced by the Mexican prosecutor's office on Thursday. This was the largest operation of its kind in years, and the media link it to US President Donald Trump's tariff threats.
The Mexican prosecutor's office declared that the country has handed over drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero and 28 other imprisoned gangsters to the United States. The media associate this action with tariff threats from US President Donald Trump.
"This is historic. Really, nothing like this has ever happened before in the history of Mexico," said Mike Vigis, former head of international operations at the DEA.
US and Mexico cooperation: Working on trade and security
Caro Quintero, founder of the Guadalajara cartel, was wanted in the USA for the 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. Among those extradited were also leaders of the Los Zetas cartel, Miguel and Omar Trevino Morales, known as Z-40 and Z-42.
The extradition coincided with the visit of Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente to Washington. De la Fuente discussed trade relations and cooperation in security matters with the US Department of State.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry reported that the meeting was fruitful, and both parties agreed on joint actions against organised crime. These actions aim to reduce the number of deaths related to the smuggling of fentanyl and firearms.
Some analysts believe the extraditions may be a gesture towards Trump in the context of trade negotiations. The US President announced a 25 per cent tariff on goods from Mexico starting 4th March, accusing the country of being ineffective in combating fentanyl smuggling and illegal migration.
