Mexico extradited 29 cartel figures to the U.S. in a surprise move, including aging drug lords and younger fentanyl traffickers. High-profile names like Rafael Caro Quintero, linked to the 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, and Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, brother of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader “El Mencho,” were handed over.
The mass extradition follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of 25% tariffs on Mexican goods starting March 4, pressuring Mexico over fentanyl trafficking and migration. The U.S. Attorney General confirmed the transfer, with defendants sent to cities like New York, Chicago, and Houston.
Among those extradited was Jose Angel “El Guerito” Canobbio of the Sinaloa Cartel, led by the sons of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Also included were Miguel Angel Trevino Morales (Z-40) and Oscar Omar Trevino Morales (Z-42) — former Zetas gang leaders known for brutal violence.
The extraditions signal “good faith” from Mexico ahead of high-stakes trade talks in Washington. Caro Quintero’s transfer to New York, where he faces drug-trafficking charges, sent a clear message: “We will never forget if you harm or kill one of our agents,” a U.S. official stated.
While Mexico called the move a “transfer,” it remains unclear if formal extradition procedures were followed. With trade and security concerns intertwined, the handover marks a rare escalation in cross-border cooperation.
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