Arizona representative, Matt Salmon, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere is expressing his concern over the release of Rafael Caro Quintero from a Mexican prison on Friday. Salmon urged the U.S. Department of Justice to “vigorously pursue an extradition claim against Caro Quintero.”
Caro Quintero is an infamous Mexican drug lord who was convicted of murdering a US Drug Enforcement Administration agent, Enrique Camarena.
Salmon issued a statement saying that he was “deeply troubled” by news that Mexican courts have released from prison the infamous drug lord. The release of this drug kingpin whom U.S. authorities believe continued to run money laundering operations from behind prison bars, raises very serious questions about the foundation of the Mexican justice system even as Mexico implements judicial reforms.”
Caro Quintero walked out of a Mexican prison on Friday, after serving 28 years of a 40-year sentence.
“As Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, I am a fervent supporter of U.S.- Mexico security cooperation, and want to continue partnering with the Mexican government to combat the scourge of drug-trafficking and associated violence,” Salmon continued.
The White House released a statement which said that the Obama administration was “deeply concerned” as well.
Caro Quintero, 60, was released from a prison in the western state of Jalisco, after Mexican federal court ordered his release on administrative grounds. The Court ruled that he had been improperly tried in a federal court for state crimes.
As head of the Guadalajara Cartel, Caro Quintero was convicted of the 1985 kidnapping, torture and killing of Camarena.