The United States Department of Justice is considering the possibility of applying the death penalty or life imprisonment to 29 drug traffickers extradited from Mexico, including Rafael Caro Quintero. U.S. prosecutors are evaluating whether they can charge the detainees with terrorism and violence, based on certain executive orders and guidelines from the Attorney General.
According to Quadratín, at least five of the drug traffickers could face the death penalty or life imprisonment for various charges such as extortion, drug trafficking, murder, illegal use of firearms, money laundering, and massive importation of drugs into the United States along with associated violent acts. This is part of the efforts of the United States to combat drug trafficking and the entry of substances like fentanyl into the country.
Among the extradited is Rafael Caro Quintero, accused of the murder of DEA agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena and founder of the Guadalajara Cartel. José Rodolfo Villarreal, also known as 'El Gato', was the operational chief of the Beltrán Leyva Cartel with charges of conspiracy and interstate stalking. Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, nicknamed 'El Viceroy' and leader of the Juárez Cartel, faces multiple charges in the United States.
Additionally, Andrew Clark, known as 'El Dictador', is accused of homicide and drug trafficking, while Luis Gerardo Méndez Estevane, alias 'El Tío', a member of 'Los Aztecas' and associated with the La Línea Cartel, faces charges of organized crime. The rest of the extradited may receive life imprisonment. These extraditions took place as part of the coordination between Mexico and the United States to combat organized crime.
