Rafael Caro Quintero, Notorious Mexican Drug Lord, Is Arraigned in New York The move by Mexico to allow the transfer of Rafael Caro Quintero to the United States signaled a potentially new era of cooperation in the drug war.

Mexico Releases Cartel Operatives, Including Rafael Caro Quintero, Into U.S. Custody The handover of so many significant cartel figures was one of the most important efforts by Mexico in the modern history of the drug war to send traffickers to face charges in U.S. courts.