Rafael Caro Quintero was arraigned on multiple drug and weapons offenses in Brooklyn federal court following his extradition Thursday to the U.S. from Mexico.
Mexico has handed over 29 drug cartel figures to the United States, including one of the FBI’s most wanted, Rafael Caro Quintero, in what observers say is a “show of compliance” by Mexican authorities.
Both men face a range of serious charges, including drug trafficking, murder conspiracy and weapons violations.
A Mexican drug kingpin depicted in Netflix’s gritty crime drama “Narcos” was arraigned Friday in Brooklyn while wearing the handcuffs that belonged to the DEA agent he was
The mass extradition included aging gang leaders such as Caro Quintero, the 72-year-old co-founder of the Guadalajara Cartel, who reigned over Mexico's criminal underworld decades ago, as well as younger leaders engaged in moving large quantities of deadly fentanyl into the U.S. more recently.