The Attorney General of the Republic, Alejandro Gertz Manero, stated that the 29 Mexican drug traffickers delivered to the United States were not extradited, but that the operation was conducted in accordance with the National Security Law, at the request of the US government, which justified the action due to the criminal behaviors of these individuals in the neighboring country.
During a press conference, Gertz Manero, accompanied by the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, detailed that the delivered drug lords were linked to criminal organizations for drug trafficking, among other crimes. Among those transferred were Rafael Caro Quintero, leader of the Guadalajara Cartel, and two leaders of Los Zetas, Miguel Ángel and Omar Treviño Morales.
The Attorney General explained that the delivery was based on Article 5 of the National Security Law and on Article 89 of the Mexican Constitution. Regarding the possibility of facing the death penalty, Gertz Manero indicated that sentences are the exclusive competence of the judges, dismissing speculation in this regard.
Omar García Harfuch, for his part, detailed the high-impact crimes for which the 29 drug traffickers were wanted in the US, including organized crime, drug trafficking, homicide, money laundering, arms trafficking, and kidnapping. He highlighted that some of them had outstanding arrest warrants for 40 years and mentioned the risk of release or delays in their extradition processes.
The Secretary emphasized the seriousness of the crimes committed in Mexico by these individuals, such as extortion, kidnapping, homicide, and attacks against federal, state, and municipal authorities. He asserted that their delivery was due to the threat they posed to the security of both Mexico and the US, supported by the policy of zero impunity and the coordination of the security cabinet.
The transfer of the drug traffickers, including Caro Quintero, occurs in a context of pressure from the Trump administration on Mexico, which threatened to impose tariffs if it did not intensify its actions against drug trafficking, which exerts strong pressure on both countries.
