The Trump administration touted the extradition of more than 20 Mexico’s defendants after the Justice Department announced the detention of 29 people.
“Today, the United States has obtained custody of 29 defendants from Mexico, whose allegations across the country have been linked to rackets, drug trafficking, murder, illegal use of firearms, money laundering and other crimes,” the DOJ noted in a press release on Thursday.
The news comes as the president attempts to combat drug cartels and secure the country’s southern borders.
Dozens of cartel leaders extradited in Mexico and our members, including drug lord rafael caro Quintero
This image released by the FBI shows the wanted deal released by Rafael Caro Quintero. (FBI via AP, file)
“President Trump directed the Justice Department and the State Department to achieve this goal, and Attorney General Bondy and Secretary of State Rubio have done a great job in completing this work,” the White House press secretary said in a statement Friday.
The statement noted that the group “including Rafael Caro Quintero, one of the world’s most evil cartel bosses, who tortured and murdered DEA Agent Kiki Camerena in 1985.”
The statement added: “The last administration allowed these criminals to run freely around the world and commit crimes. The Trump administration declared these thugs terrorists because that was their identity and demanded justice for the American people.”
The State Department announced last week that it would call eight groups foreign terrorist groups after President Donald Trump issued an executive order on the subject in January.
Notorious entities including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua include designated entities.
Trump State Department announces Tren de Aragua of Mexican drug cartel MS-13 as a foreign terrorist group
“The defendants detained in the U.S. today include the leader and manager of the recently designated foreign terrorist organization, the Justice Department pointed out in a press release on Thursday.
The release noted that FBI Director Kash Patel, who was sworn in last week, announced that federal law enforcement agencies and their “partners will search for the end of the planet to bring terrorists and cartel members to justice.”
Mexican drug cartel leader faces federal drug trafficking charges extradition to the United States
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“The era of hurting Americans and walking freely is over,” he said.
Kaitlin Sprague of Fox News contributes to the report
