Possible Death Penalty for Drug Lord Rafael Caro Quintero Amid U.S. Proceedings

The U.S. may seek the death penalty for Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero after his expulsion from Mexico. Accused of various drug charges, including a notorious 1985 murder, Caro Quintero has pleaded not guilty. A Brooklyn court weighs the possible capital punishment, needing Attorney General approval.

The United States government has declared it may pursue the death penalty against renowned Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero. His extradition last month led to his arraignment on serious drug-related charges in a Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Frederic Block inquired about the capital punishment possibility during a hearing, to which prosecutor Saritha Komatireddy acknowledged it as a potential outcome, though a final decision remains pending. Currently, Caro Quintero faces charges, including continuing criminal enterprise and conspiracy to import cocaine, having pleaded not guilty.

Caro Quintero's prior conviction relates to the 1985 murder of U.S. drug agent Enrique Camarena, a crime that intensified the notorious narcotics conflicts in Mexico. Since released on a technicality in 2013, he was re-arrested in 2022. The ongoing legal battles attract widespread attention, following his depiction in the 2018 TV series 'Narcos Mexico.'

(With inputs from agencies.)