Max the dog helps nail fugitive kingpin
Extradition set in what could be signal to the U.S.
MEXICO CITY >> The United States' motivation to find infamous druglord Rafael Caro Quintero was never in doubt — hence the $20 million reward for information leading to his capture — there was less certainty about the commitment of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who had made clear his lack of interest in pursu- ing druglords.
Yet on Friday, three days after López Obrador and Mexico's Attorney Gen- drug traffickers again, President Joe Biden met in eral's Office said in a state- which had been suspended,” the White House, the U.S. ment late Friday that Caro Saucedo said. Drug Enforcement Admin- Quintero was arrested for Both presidents face istration's most-wanted extradition to the U.S. and domestic pressure to do target was in Mexican cus- would be held at the max- more against drug traffickers. tody. imum security Altiplano With Caro Quintero's
The man allegedly responsible prison about 50 miles west arrest, “Narcos are for the murder of Mexico City. being captured again and of a DEA agent more than DEA Administrator I believe that clearly it was three decades ago was Anne Milgram celebrated what was in fact needed,” rousted from the undergrowth the capture of a man especially Saucedo said. by a bloodhound as despised by U.S. officials U.S. Ambassador to Mexican marines closed in for the torture and Mexico Ken Salazar said in Sinaloa. murder of DEA agent Enrique no U.S. personnel participated
Mexico's navy and Attorney's “Kiki” Camarena in directly in the tactical General Office led 1985. “Our incredible DEA operation. the operation deep in the team in Mexico worked in Samuel González, who mountains that straddle partnership with Mexican founded the organized the border between Sinaloa authorities to capture and crime office in Mexico's Attorney and Chihuahua states, arrest Rafael Caro Quintero”, General's Office and many miles from any she said late Friday. now is a security analyst, paved road. They found Cooperation between said the capture may not Caro Quintero, with help of the DEA and Mexico's marines have a major effect on the Max, hiding in brush in a had led to some of the map of organized crime in place in Sinaloa called San highest-profile captures Mexico, as Caro Quintero Simon. The arrest came during previous administrations, was not as powerful as decades at a heavy cost: Fourteen but not under ago, and it might Mexican marines died and López Obrador, noted security even generate more violence another was injured when analyst David Saucedo. in territories such as a navy Black Hawk helicopter “It seems to me that in Sonora, at the U.S. border. crashed during the operation. the private talks between But he said that to López The navy said it President Joe Biden and Obrador's benefit, the arrest appeared to have been an Andrés Manuel (López Obrador) “shows evidence that accident, with the cause they surely agreed there's no protection of capos” under investigation. to turning over high-profile by his administration.