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The United States Department of Justice has confirmed that Mexico has extradited infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, along with 28 other cartel fugitives, to the U.S.

Caro Quintero, who Mexican authorities identify as a key figure in founding the Guadalajara cartel, was reportedly involved in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique Camarena Salazar in 1985—a crime portrayed in the Netflix series “Narcos.”

According to the DEA, the assassination of Salazar was orchestrated as retaliation for a raid by Mexican authorities on Caro Quintero’s extensive marijuana plantation in 1984.

Caro Quintero was incarcerated in Mexico for 28 years for his involvement in the murder but was released on a judicial technicality in 2013. This ruling was later reversed by the Mexican Supreme Court.

After his release, he reportedly returned to drug trafficking as a high-level leader within the Sinaloa cartel, as noted by the FBI.

In July 2022, Caro Quintero was apprehended by the Mexican Navy during a mission that resulted in the tragic death of 14 Marines due to a helicopter mishap. Detectives discovered him concealed in shrubbery thanks to a navy dog.

“Caro Quintero, a notorious figure responsible for widespread violence and chaos in both the United States and Mexico, has long been among the DEA’s most sought-after fugitives. We proudly confirm that he is now in the United States where justice will prevail,” stated DEA Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz on Thursday.

“This moment is deeply significant for the brave men and women of the DEA who regard Caro Quintero as accountable for the horrific demise of Special Agent Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena. It represents a victory for the Camarena family. This action sends a clear message to all cartel leaders, traffickers, and criminals populating our communities: accountability is inevitable. Justice will find you, regardless of time or distance,” he concluded.

Quintero is anticipated to make his court appearance in New York on Friday.

The Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection announced that the 29 individuals, previously held in various prisons throughout the country, were relocated to the United States.

These individuals faced charges related to their affiliations with criminal enterprises engaged in drug trafficking and other illegal activities.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported that those apprehended on Thursday included key figures connected to drug cartels classified as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, such as the Sinaloa Cartel and Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).

Among those detained were Martin Sotelo, known as Alder Marin-Sotelo, alleged to have been involved in the 2022 murder of Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd in Charlotte, North Carolina; Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, purportedly a leader within CJNG; and two high-ranking members of Los Zetas, Ramiro Perez Moreno and Lucio Hernandez Lechuga.

“These individuals are accused of orchestrating the importation of vast quantities of toxic substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin, alongside the perpetration of associated violent acts,” the DOJ statement noted.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated that those cartel members would face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the dedicated law enforcement officials who have devoted their lives to safeguarding the public against the dangers posed by violent cartels.

“As President Trump has stated, cartels are classified as terrorist organizations, and this Department of Justice is committed to dismantling cartels and transnational gangs,” she asserted.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove remarked that the recent extraditions illustrate a White House negotiation approach based on strength, alongside an Attorney General who leads the Department with tenacity and determination.

CNN’s Fidel Gutierrez contributed to this report. This article also includes contributions from Tara Subramaniam, Karol Suarez, and Rey Rodriguez.