Mexican drug kingpin Rafael Caro Quintero was convicted in 1985 of orderin the torture and murder of a U.S. anti-drugs agent and was sentenced to a 40-year sentence. On Friday, the Mexican government freed Rafael Caro Quintero from the Puente Grande prison in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, in an act that has frustrated and upset the U.S. government.
"There are various factors, and among them the fact that he already served his time for drug trafficking," said a court official during the time of Rafael Caro Quintero's release.
Rafael Caro Quintero had only served 28 years of his 40-year sentence for ordering the death of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique Camarena. Rafael Caro Quintero was released after a Mexican court ruled that he should have not been tried on a federal level, but should have been tried on a state level.
"We are reminded every day of the ultimate sacrifice paid by Special Agent Camarena and DEA will vigorously continue its efforts to ensure Caro Quintero faces charges in the United States for the crimes he committed," said the DEA in a statement in response to the Mexican drug kingpin's release. They also revealed they would be pushing for Rafael Caro Quintero to be tried in a U.S. court.
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Here are six things to know about Rafael Caro Quintero:
1. Rafael Caro Quintero, the Mexican drug kingpin, is believed to be 61 years old.
2. Rafael Caro Quintero, the Mexican drug kingpin, was one of the leaders of the Guadalajara cartel of the Sinaloa cartel, which is currently led by Mexico's most-wanted drug lord, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman.
3. Rafael Caro Quintero, the Mexican drug kingpin, had Enrique Camarena kidnapped, tortured and murdered after the DEA agent had numerous successful drug busts. The body of Enrique Camarena and a his Mexican pilot were found buried in shallow graves and had signs of torture.
4. Rafael Caro Quintero, the Mexican drug kingpin, was caught in Costa Rica in 1985. Mexico's failed attempts to capture Rafael Caro Quintero led to poor relations between the U.S. and Mexico. The release of the Mexican drug kingpin is believed to cause more friction between the two countries.
5. Rafael Caro Quintero, the Mexican drug kingpin, cannot be extradited to the United States to be tried, as Mexican law mandates that extradition of Mexicans to countries that impose the death penalty or life imprisonment is prohibited.
6. In June, the U.S. Treasury Department placed sanctions, by freezing their assets, on 18 people linked to Rafael Caro Quintero, the Mexican drug kingpin, which included six of his family members.
"Caro Quintero has used a network of family members and front persons to invest his fortune into ostensibly legitimate companies and real estate projects in the city of Guadalajara" said Adam Szubin, Director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
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