Mexico Extradites 29 High-Level Cartel Operatives to U.S. Amid Pressure Over Fentanyl Trafficking

• Feb 28, 2025

Prisoners, including drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, transferred as Mexico seeks to ease trade tensions with the U.S.

Mexico has extradited 29 high-ranking members of organized crime to the United States, responding to growing pressure from the Trump administration to take stronger action against fentanyl trafficking.

Among those handed over is Rafael Caro Quintero, the notorious drug lord convicted of orchestrating the 1985 murder of U.S. undercover DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. Caro Quintero, once the leader of the now-defunct Guadalajara Cartel, served 28 years in prison before his release in 2013, when a court overturned his sentence. However, he soon resumed drug trafficking operations and remained on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list until his capture by Mexican authorities in 2022.

Also included in the extradition were former leaders of the notoriously violent Zetas cartel, Omar and Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales. Though both were arrested in 2013, U.S. authorities accuse them of continuing to run the Cartel del Noreste—Las Zetas’ successor organization—from behind bars.

The large-scale extradition comes at a pivotal moment, as Mexico negotiates with the U.S. to delay impending 25% tariffs on Mexican imports, set to take effect on March 4. With 80% of Mexico’s exports dependent on the U.S. market, analysts warn the tariffs could push Mexico into a recession, though they would also have economic consequences for U.S. businesses.

Last month, Mexico temporarily averted the tariff deadline by deploying 10,000 soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border in an effort to curb migration and drug trafficking. However, critics argue that increased military presence may have little impact on fentanyl smuggling, as the drug’s potency allows traffickers to move relatively small but highly valuable shipments, primarily through legal ports of entry via U.S. citizens.

Adding to diplomatic tensions, the U.S. recently designated six Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), escalating pressure between the two nations. While this classification does not authorize U.S. military action on Mexican soil, some fear it could be a precursor to intervention.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has strongly opposed any potential violation of national sovereignty, stating that her administration would not tolerate an “invasion” by U.S. forces.

Meanwhile, Mexico has intensified its crackdown on the Sinaloa Cartel—one of the groups now labeled as a terrorist organization by the U.S.—arresting several key figures in recent weeks. According to Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla, U.S. spy drones have been conducting surveillance over Mexican territory, providing intelligence that has aided in these operations.

As negotiations continue, the extraditions signal Mexico’s commitment to addressing U.S. concerns, but whether they will be enough to stave off economic penalties remains uncertain.