The US Would Like Mexico to Re-Arrest the Drug Kingpin It Released Abby Ohlheiser - The Atlantic Wire
go to original August 18, 2013

Mexican drug kingpin released from prison on technicality (QWSHHCEO)

Last week, Mexico released drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero in the middle of the night, despite his conviction and 40-year sentence for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of DEA agent Enrique Camarena (he was 28 years into his sentence). And now, the U.S. would like Mexico to hit "undo" on that move, and re-arrest Quintero so that they can try once more to extradite him. The request, a provisional arrest warrant, was confirmed to the New York Times by unnamed officials from both governments.

The U.S. said on Saturday that they were "extremely disappointed" with Mexico's decision, which was based on a judge's finding that the drug lord was tried in a federal court for what was a state crime. According to the Associated Press, neither the U.S. nor the media were alerted to Quintero's release ahead of time, which officials apparently knew would make few people happy. The Attorney General of Mexico Jesus Murillo Karam said last weekend that his office wasn't sure whether the U.S. had filed an extradition request on any pending charges. According to the New York Times, Karam's office privately encouraged the U.S. to send a request in the wake of Quintero's release, which looks like a sign that the country is on board with the plan to re-arrest him if possible.

Extradition, however, might be more complicated. There's a double jeopardy provision in the extradition treaty that would prevent the U.S. filing a request in the killing of Camarena, so the request would have to pertain to other, probably drug-related charges. Based on a Supreme Court decision in Mexico barring the extradition of Mexicans to countries where they'd face the death penalty or life imprisonment, those charges might also face further limitations.

Read the rest at The Atlantic Wire

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