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From Fox News: Mexico has begun the process of extraditing dozens of high-level cartel leaders and members to the U.S., including Rafael Caro Quintero, a former leader of the Guadalajara cartel involved in the kidnapping and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985.
The founders of Los Zetas, Miguel and Omar Morales, also known as Z-40 and Z-42, will be extradited to the U.S. as well.
The extraditions were done at the request of the U.S. government as President Donald Trump’s tariff deadline looms. One of the president’s demands is for Mexico to crack down on dangerous cartels and fentanyl production and distribution.
“This morning, 29 people who were deprived of their liberty in different penitentiary centers in the country were transferred to the United States of America, which were required due to their links with criminal organizations for drug trafficking, among other crimes,” Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office and Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection wrote.
According to the report, the extraditions of the Mexican drug lords coincided with a visit to Washington, D.C., by Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente and other top economic and military officials, who met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Video footage has been released of the #1 cartel thug on the list, Rafael Caro Quintero, one of the FBI’s ten most wanted fugitives, arriving in New York.
BOOM – Video just sent said to be Rafael Caro Quintero arriving in New York. pic.twitter.com/TQD99jQyE6
— Ioan Grillo (@ioangrillo) February 28, 2025
Independent border journalist Auden Cabello urged, “The Trump administration’s efforts must extend beyond these cases to indict corrupt politicians who have collaborated with cartels and facilitated narcotics trafficking. Only by holding corrupt politicians accountable can the United States effectively combat cartels and their activities.”
Cabello then shared details from the Justice Department press release, including the names of all 29 cartel thugs:
On February 27, 2025, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that the United States has secured custody of 29 defendants from Mexico, who are facing charges across various U.S. districts for crimes including racketeering, drug trafficking, murder, illegal firearms use, money laundering, and other offenses.
These individuals are linked to major drug cartels such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Cártel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas), La Nueva Familia Michoacana, and Cártel de Golfo (Gulf Cartel). The defendants are accused of importing vast amounts of drugs—including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin—into the U.S., alongside perpetrating acts of violence. Notable figures among them include Rafael Caro Quintero, allegedly involved in the 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, and Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, a key CJNG leader and brother of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.
This operation reflects a strong stance against cartels, with potential evaluations for additional terrorism and violence charges, as well as the death penalty, under recent executive orders and DOJ guidance.
Below is the complete list of the 29 defendants, along with the districts where they are charged and will appear in federal court:
1. Rafael Caro Quintero – Southern District of California
2. Martin Sotelo – Middle District of North Carolina
3. Antonio Oseguera Cervantes – District of Columbia
4. Ramiro Perez Moreno – Southern District of Texas
5. Lucio Hernandez Lechuga – Eastern District of Texas
6. Jesus Alfredo Salazar-Porras – District of Arizona
7. Raymundo Guillen-Sillas – Central District of California
8. Ruben Rodriguez-Dorado – Southern District of California
9. Jose Luis Nunez-Salgado – Northern District of Illinois
10. Jose Alfredo Burgueno-Valenzuela – Eastern District of New York
11. Jesus Manuel Felix-Moreno – Southern District of New York
12. Victor Manuel Nunez-Medrano – Northern District of Texas
13. Martin Holguin-Sanchez – Western District of Texas
14. Jose Antonio Torres-Valdez – Southern District of Texas
15. Juan Carlos Olivas-Mendez – Eastern District of Texas
16. Jesus Isaac Gastelum-Meza – District of Arizona
17. Luis Alberto Guillen-Lopez – Central District of California
18. Felipe Gurrola-Garcia – Southern District of California
19. Jose Adrian Acosta-Porras – Northern District of Illinois
20. Martin Alonso Beltran-Ramirez – Eastern District of New York
21. Carlos Arturo Holguin-Valdez – Southern District of New York
22. Juan Francisco Lopez-Rodriguez – Northern District of Texas
23. Ernesto Lopez-Olivas – Western District of Texas
24. Saul Alejandro Perez-Ramirez – Southern District of Texas
25. Jose Luis Valencia-Garcia – Eastern District of Texas
26. Mario Alberto Torres-Moreno – District of Arizona
27. Hector Manuel Lopez-Garcia – Central District of California
28. Francisco Javier Ruiz-Sanchez – Northern District of Illinois
29. Eduardo Lopez Morales – Southern District of Texas
These individuals represent a mix of cartel leaders, managers, and operatives, highlighting a significant law enforcement effort to dismantle transnational criminal organizations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
THE LIST
On February 27, 2025, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that the United States has secured custody of 29 defendants from Mexico, who are facing charges across various U.S. districts for crimes including racketeering, drug trafficking, murder, illegal firearms… https://t.co/vnuYMSai9W
— Auden B. Cabello (@CabelloAuden) February 28, 2025
Attorney General Pamela Bondi Announces 29 Wanted Defendants from Mexico Taken into U.S. Custody
🔗: https://t.co/wsfvBNoZG6 pic.twitter.com/vbh8a8GIRz
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) February 27, 2025
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