Nephew of major drug trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero extradited to U.S.

In a joint operation involving the Mexican Attorney General's Office (FGR) and its Navy Secretariat, Rodrigo Omar Páez Quintero, nephew of the well-known drug trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero, has been extradited to the United States for criminal prosecution.

The extradition, which was confirmed this Sunday after a complicated process, marks a new chapter in the fight against organized crime that has devastated both Mexico and the United States.

Rodrigo Omar Páez Quintero, known for his prominent role in the Caborca ​​Cartel, has been identified as the lieutenant of his uncle, Rafael Caro Quintero, in Sonora.

His main task was to maintain and rebuild the criminal legacy of his uncle, known as the “Narco of Narcos.” Under his leadership, the Caborca ​​Cartel, also known as “La Plaza,” has been responsible for a wave of violence in northwestern Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean region.

Rodrigo Omar Páez Quintero, alias "R", fue ubicado en un domicilio de la colonia Santa Rita, en el municipio de Zapopan, Jalisco. pic.twitter.com/VG9c7JNmjx

— Manuel Espino Bucio (@manuelespinob1) April 30, 2023

The Caborca ​​Cartel has sought to regain control of criminal activities in strategic locations such as El Zoquete in Caborca, Sonora. This organization has been one of the main cartels responsible for promoting violence in the desert that extends between Sonora and Arizona, where there have been multiple confrontations between rival criminal groups for control of the transfer of drugs, weapons, money and undocumented migrants.

The Caborca ​​Cartel's reach is not limited to the desert.

It has also extended its operations to the Mexican Caribbean, particularly in the tourist areas of Cancun and Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo. These areas have seen an increase in violence due to competition for the lucrative drug business and control of seaports.

In addition, the cartel has established its presence in other port towns such as Guaymas and Empalme in Sonora, where intentional homicides and disappearances have increased considerably in recent years.

One of the most notorious incidents was the attack in 2021 against former police commander and Navy Secretary officer, Andrés Humberto Cano Ahuir. Although Cano Ahuir survived, the attack resulted in the death of young feminist Marisol Cuadras, leaving another activist injured and a reporter hit by bullets.

In compliance with the extradition treaty between Mexico and the United States, the FGR handed over Rodrigo Páez Quintero to the U.S. authorities. The delivery took place at the Toluca International Airport, State of Mexico, where U.S. federal agents received it for transfer.

Páez Quintero is required to make a personal appearance to answer charges filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona for crimes including conspiracy.

Following the capture of Rafael Caro Quintero, the Caborca ​​Cartel has faced challenges from “La Chapiza,” a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel led by the sons of Joaquín Guzmán.

These attempts to displace “La Plaza” from its territory have been largely unsuccessful, due to the strong influence and control that the Quintero family has maintained on the desert routes between Sonora and Arizona for decades.

The extradition of Rodrigo Omar Páez Quintero to the United States represents a significant blow to the Caborca ​​Cartel.