Mexico extradited 29 alleged drug traffickers to the United States on Thursday, responding to growing pressure from US President Donald Trump to address drug smuggling issues. The mass extradition is part of Mexico’s efforts to secure a deal with Washington and avoid tariffs that Trump has tied to illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking.
The US Justice Department had requested the handover, though the identities of the suspects were not immediately disclosed. Mexican media reported that high-profile figures among those extradited include former Zetas cartel leaders Omar and Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, as well as Rafael Caro Quintero, a notorious drug trafficker accused of killing US DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.
Caro Quintero was previously listed as one of the FBI’s most-wanted fugitives before his capture in 2022. His extradition is part of a broader crackdown on Mexican cartels, which Trump recently labeled as terrorist organizations.
The extradition coincides with a visit by a high-level Mexican delegation to Washington, aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two nations while also safeguarding Mexico’s sovereignty, as President Claudia Sheinbaum continues to reject any perceived infringement on her country’s autonomy.
