Mexico has sent notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, responsible for the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985, to the United States along with 28 other prisoners at the request of the U.S. government. This significant move coincides with high-level Mexican officials’ efforts in Washington to prevent the Trump administration from imposing 25% tariffs on Mexican imports. Among the prisoners transferred were also two leaders of the Los Zetas cartel, Miguel Treviño Morales and Omar Treviño Morales.

The handover of these high-profile criminals comes as negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico intensify, with President Trump demanding Mexico’s crackdown on cartels, illegal migration, and fentanyl production in exchange for delaying tariffs. The removal of Caro Quintero, who had previously been released in 2013 after serving 28 years in prison, is seen as a significant development in bilateral relations and law enforcement cooperation between the two countries.

The swift action by Mexico’s government to transfer these criminals to the U.S. without formal extradition procedures raises the possibility of prosecuting them for various charges, including Caro Quintero for the murder of the DEA agent. This move highlights Mexico’s willingness to cooperate with the U.S. in combating drug trafficking and organized crime, signaling a shift in their approach under President Trump’s administration.

The extradition of these high-profile criminals, including long-standing targets like Caro Quintero, represents a major concession by Mexico to the United States. However, this decision may disrupt the traditional practice of Mexican drug lords serving sentences in Mexican prisons, potentially leading to backlash from drug trafficking groups against the Mexican state.