The founder of the Guadalajara Cartel, Rafael Caro Quintero, was recaptured in July 2022 in San Simón, Sinaloa, after being free since August 2013, when he had been released after 28 years in prison. The DEA stated that they had evidence that Caro Quintero had resumed his drug trafficking activities, which led to his new detention.
The Mexican Navy carried out an operation that resulted in the capture of Caro Quintero, largely thanks to the help of a Navy dog named Max, a Bloodhound. Max located the leader of the Guadalajara Cartel hiding among the brush in the mountains of Sinaloa. According to the Navy, Max, with his training in search and rescue, was instrumental in locating the drug lord and facilitating his transfer to the Attorney General's Office for the relevant investigations.
Rafael Caro Quintero was extradited to the United States along with 28 other high-profile Mexican drug traffickers, including leaders of Los Zetas, Miguel Treviño Morales and Omar Treviño Morales. However, Caro Quintero was considered the most important target for the U.S. as he was convicted of the murder of DEA agent Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena in 1985.
The dog Max, born on April 20, 2016, played a crucial role in the capture of Rafael Caro Quintero. She is a specimen specialized in search and rescue tasks, distinguished for her work in locating the drug lord in the mountains of Sinaloa.
