Caro Quintero's Legal Battle: From Cartel Boss to Courtroom

Rafael Caro Quintero pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in a U.S. court. Handed over by Mexican authorities alongside 28 others, Caro Quintero faces charges that could result in execution. Once leading the powerful Guadalajara Cartel, he was imprisoned for 28 years for a DEA agent's murder.

Rafael Caro Quintero, once a notorious cartel leader, faced a U.S. court on charges of drug trafficking that could lead to his execution. His not guilty plea marks yet another chapter in a long and tumultuous legal saga.

The extradition of Caro Quintero and 28 other suspected cartel members represents a significant action by Mexican authorities, coinciding with mounting pressure from the U.S. to combat drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

Caro Quintero, aged 72, was formerly associated with the Guadalajara Cartel, a precursor to the modern-day Sinaloa Cartel. Despite serving 28 years for the murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena, Caro Quintero continues to deny involvement.

(With inputs from agencies.)