Mexico Extradites 29 Drug Cartel Figures to US Amid Trump Administration Pressure

In a historic move, Mexico has extradited drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero and 28 other cartel figures to the United States as part of an effort to enhance security cooperation amid escalating pressure from the Trump administration, which has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican imports. The group includes notable figures linked to five of the six organized crime groups classified by the U.S. as 'foreign terrorist organizations,' such as leaders from the Sinaloa and Los Zetas cartels. Quintero, who is infamously known for his role in the 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena, has been a target of U.S. law enforcement for decades. This unprecedented transfer of prisoners, which took place at an airport north of Mexico City, highlights the increasing collaboration between the two nations in combating drug trafficking. Additionally, the move coincides with high-level meetings in Washington, where Mexican officials are working to negotiate better terms with the U.S. government. Experts suggest this operation might have bypassed formal extradition procedures due to political motivations.