Mexico's controversial extradition sparks fears of death penalty for cartel suspects

Mexico’s controversial extradition of 29 suspected cartel members to the United States has raised significant concerns, particularly over the potential risk of the death penalty for the suspects.

Critics argue that the Mexican government bypassed established legal procedures to expedite the process, reportedly in response to mounting pressure from President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexican imports. Legal experts and security analysts have criticized the move as unprecedented and a clear violation of existing extradition protocols, sparking a fierce debate over the legal and ethical implications of the handover, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Raul Benitez, a security expert at Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM), described the transfer as “a political extradition, without a doubt unique in the history of Mexico." Experts noted that the handover could expose some of the suspects, including infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, to the possibility of the death penalty, which is typically barred in Mexican extraditions.

The process did not adhere to established extradition procedures, according to lawyers. One key issue was the absence of formal requests for many of the suspects, a requirement under Mexican law. Furthermore, Mexican law mandates that the US provide assurances that no extradited person will face the death penalty. In this case, such guarantees were not provided.

Juan Manuel Delgado, a lawyer representing the Treviño brothers, former leaders of the Los Zetas cartel, stated, “The transfer... was done outside of any legal procedure." He said he is considering filing an appeal.

On the other hand, some view the expedited handover as a strategic move to avoid 25 per cent tariffs on Mexican goods, which Trump had threatened to impose unless Mexico took stronger action on fentanyl and migrant flows. Miguel Ontiveros, president of the Mexican Academy of Criminal Science, stated, "This operation shows that not only will extraditions to the United States increase, but also joint operations against organized crime."

Despite the criticisms, some experts believe the move could strengthen cooperation between Mexico and the US in the fight against drug trafficking.

By Vafa Guliyeva