Mexican Drug Lord Wanted for 1985 Murder of DEA Special Agent in U.S. Custody
The drug lord accused of killing and torturing Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in Mexico in 1985, is in the United States to face justice after four decades.
Drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero was on the DEA’s most wanted fugitives list for 40 years. He was released into U.S. custody by the Mexican government along with 28 other high-profile fugitives. Caro Quintero had been in a Mexican prison.
"This moment is extremely personal for the men and women of DEA who believe Caro Quintero is responsible for the brutal torture and murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena. It is also a victory for the Camarena family," DEA Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz said in a statement.
Quintero, a founding member of the Guadalajara cartel, pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in Brooklyn federal court. He was reportedly handcuffed with the same handcuffs that belonged to special agent Camarena.
Camarena’s Kidnapping and Murder
Camarena joined DEA in 1974 after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and as a law enforcement officer with the Imperial County, California sheriff’s office. He transferred to Mexico in the early 1980s, working out of Guadalajara. Camarena was “extremely close to unlocking a multi-billion-dollar drug pipeline” when he was kidnapped in February 1985.
According to court documents, Caro Quintero allegedly ordered his men to kidnap Camarena. After being tortured, the group murdered Camarena, who was 37-years-old at the time and a father of three.
“For 14,631 days, we held on to hope — hope that this moment would come. Hope that we would live to see accountability. And now, that hope has finally turned into reality. While no amount of time can erase the pain or bring back what we lost, today marks a step toward justice,” Camarena’s family said in a statement.
“Historic Moment”
For DEA agents, Caro Quintero’s arrival at New York’s JFK Airport was a historic moment.
“It demonstrated the tenacity of countless members of the criminal justice system who work hard and risk their lives to protect our communities from drug traffickers regardless of where they are from,” said Special Counsel for the Department of Justice John Durham. “But most importantly, it demonstrated you can never kill a DEA agent, and you will never get away with it.”
Caro Quintero was convicted of the murder in Mexico and was in prison for 28 years. He continued to run his drug operation behind bars and was depicted in the Netflix crime drama “Narcos.”
Other major drug figures sent to the U.S. include:
Martin Sotelo, who is alleged to have participated in the 2022 murder of Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd.
Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, who allegedly helped lead CJNG and is reportedly the brother of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho.”
Ramiro Perez Moreno and Lucio Hernandez Lechuga, who are alleged to be high-ranking members of Los Zetas.
The Mexican government released the suspects into U.S. custody, after pressure from the Trump Administration, as the nations haggle over tariffs, trafficking, and other issues.
