A Mexican national, who is the nephew of jailed drug kingpin Rafael Caro-Quintero, has been extradited from Mexico to the United States, the U.S. Attorneyβs Office says.
Rodrigo Paez-Quintero, who made his initial court appearance Tuesday at federal court in Tucson, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
βThis indictment alleges coordinated conduct to traffic fentanyl and other illicit drugs into Phoenix,β said U.S. Attorney for Arizona Gary Restaino in a news release.
The indictment claims Paez-Quintero was involved in at least nine drug trafficking events from the Lukeville Port of Entry, through Ajo and up to Phoenix, in the year before March 2019.
βOur fight against international drug traffickers who spread poison into our communities requires all hands on deck,β said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in the news release. βThis extradition is yet another example of our partnership with Mexican law enforcement to dismantle deadly cartels and bring drug kingpins to justice.β
Each count in Paez-Quinteroβs charges has a maximum sentence of life in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million.
The investigation was conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration-Tucson, Homeland Security Investigations-Tucson and FBIβTucson, with assistance from the Tohono Oβodham Nation Police Department.