AFTER 40 YEARS THE MEXICAN DRUG LORD WHO MURDERED KIKI CAMARENA IS FINALLY FACING JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES

Rafael Caro Quintero Extradited to US

 

Texas Narcotic Officers Association (TNOA)

Mar 1, 2025

 

DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena and his three sons before he was kidnapped and killed.

 

DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered in 1985 by the Guadalajara Cartel in retaliation for his anti-drug operations. Rafael Caro Quintero, the cartel leader charged in the U.S. with Camarena’s torture and murder, along with many other crimes, was extradited to the U.S. on February 27, 2025, along with 28 other high-profile drug traffickers. His extradition followed U.S. pressure on Mexico to intensify its crackdown on organized crime. Caro Quintero appeared in a New York court on February 28, pleading not guilty while wearing Camarena’s handcuffs—a symbolic moment for law enforcement. The mass extradition marks a significant step in U.S.-Mexico cooperation against drug trafficking.

 

In June 2014 the DEA unveiled a billboard in Phoenix, Arizona seeking information for the capture of Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro-Quintero

 

Following Caro Quintero’s extradition, the Camarena family released a statement, calling it “a day we have long awaited.” They expressed their pain over four decades of loss and the absence of their beloved Kiki, acknowledging the enduring grief of birthdays, holidays, and an empty seat at the table. They emphasized that for 14,631 days, they held on to hope that justice would come, and now that moment has arrived. While it cannot erase their pain, they see this as a step toward justice. The family thanked the DEA, law enforcement agencies, investigators, and officials who never gave up on the case, as well as President Trump for using the weight of the U.S. government to ensure Caro Quintero faced accountability. They also expressed deep gratitude to those who have supported them, honored Camarena’s legacy through Red Ribbon Week, and stood by them in their darkest moments.