Drug Lord’s Nephew Extradited to Tucson: Smuggling Scandal Unfolds

Rodrigo Paez-Quintero, the nephew of a notorious Mexican drug kingpin, was extradited to the United States on smuggling charges and faced his initial appearance in a Tucson federal court on Tuesday. Paez-Quintero is charged with 10 felony counts, including conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

The charges stem from operations at the Lukeville border crossing, about 110 miles southwest of Tucson. Paez-Quintero and nine others were indicted by a grand jury in 2021, accused of smuggling drugs to Phoenix on nine occasions. Each felony count carries a maximum life sentence and a potential $10 million fine, according to Justice Department spokesman Zach Stoebe.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the importance of international cooperation in fighting drug trafficking. “Our fight against international drug traffickers who spread poison into our communities requires all hands on deck,” she stated. “This extradition is yet another example of our partnership with Mexican law enforcement to dismantle deadly cartels and bring drug kingpins to justice.”

United States Attorney Gary Restaino echoed these sentiments, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the indictment. “This indictment alleges coordinated conduct to traffic fentanyl and other illicit drugs into Phoenix,” he said. “Many thanks to our federal, foreign, and sovereign tribal partners for their teamwork and dedication.”

Paez-Quintero’s uncle, Rafael Caro-Quintero, co-founded the Guadalajara cartel that moved large quantities of marijuana into the U.S. by the early 1980s. The cartel became a target of the DEA investigation led by Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. In a series of violent retaliatory actions, Caro-Quintero and his associates murdered numerous individuals, including Camarena and pilot Alfredo Zavala Avelar.

Although arrested and tried by Mexican authorities, Caro-Quintero was controversially released in 2013. His freedom was short-lived, as he was recaptured in 2022 during a bloody operation that resulted in the deaths of 14 Mexican marines. DEA head Anne Milgram praised the Mexican Navy for their efforts, describing Camarena as a “tenacious agent who relentlessly pursued the most dangerous drug cartels operating in Mexico.”

Caro-Quintero’s capture led to the disintegration of the Guadalajara cartel, with factions splintering off into groups like the Tijuana cartel and Sinaloa cartel. Caro-Quintero himself now faces potential extradition to the U.S. Last year, another Caro-Quintero associate, Ismael Quintero Arellanes, was extradited to New York on narcotics and firearms charges.

The investigation against Paez-Quintero was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation, which aims to dismantle high-level criminal organizations using a multi-agency, intelligence-driven approach. Several U.S. agencies, including the DEA’s office in Tucson, Homeland Security Investigations in Sells, and the FBI’s Tucson office, collaborated on the case. Additionally, the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department assisted in the investigation.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona in Tucson is handling the prosecution of Paez-Quintero. Stoebe mentioned that the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs played a crucial role in securing his arrest and extradition from Mexico.