Infamous Drug Lord Rafael Caro Quintero May Be Extradited to U.S. Over Killing of DEA Agent

Drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, one of the founders of the Guadalajara Cartel, was finally captured by Mexican forces, but at a huge cost. Now, he may be extradited to the United States, much like other infamous Mexican drug lords like Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera.

He is currently one of the FBI's most wanted, not only because of his drug trafficking activities but also for torturing and killing DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985. With the extradition agreement between Mexico and the United States, he may be facing American justice soon.

A Mexican federal official spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The official confirmed that the drug lord was notified last weekend that the extradition process to send him to the United States had already begun.

Caro Quintero had previously been informed of his charges by a judge in Mexico City, including the crimes he is wanted for in the United States like the 1985 killing of DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. He is currently being held in a high-security prison near the capital, Mexico City.

U.S. Wants His 'Immediate Extradition'

Since his capture last week, the United States had been eager to get him on U.S. soil. The wanted drug lord was previously imprisoned in Mexico but was released on a technicality in 2013, and had been on the run since.

United States Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Friday that they are seeking Caro Quintero's "immediate extradition" to the country. They now have 60 days to file a formal extradition request, as well as provide the evidence to support the claim. After they have filed, a Mexican judge would then determine whether the extradition should proceed or not.

The Associated Press noted that Caro Quintero's lawyers will probably file appeals in order to delay his extradition. And they may have a lot of time to do so, as extradition processes tend to be lengthy. However, how long this process takes depends on the political will of the countries involved.

Mexico in Mourning for Marines Who Died in Crash Following Caro Quintero Arrest

While the arrest of the notorious Guadalajara Cartel boss had been a huge victory for Mexico's war on drugs, it also came at a huge cost as a Navy Black Hawk helicopter crashed, killing 14 marines inside, with only one survivor.

The Mexican Navy is still investigating the cause of the accident, though they have said that the crash was an accident, according to the BBC.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador talked to the media and told them that the crash took place after Rafael Caro Quintero's arrest. It was supporting the capture operation against the Guadalajara drug lord but went down in Los Mochis, Sinaloa after completing its mission.

A memorial ceremony was held for the 14 marines who died in the incident.

According to The Guardian, Caro Quintero was called the "Narco of Narcos" and is one of the most infamous drug syndicates on Earth. He was first captured in Costa Rica, and then imprisoned in Mexico. However, he got out in 2013 due to a technicality. The drug lord was then be tracked by a bloodhound in his home state of Sinaloa, near the town of Choix.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero arrested by Mexican Navy for killing a US agent - The Sun