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Mexico hands over 4 drug kingpins to U.S.
01.21.07|chicagotribune.com

Breaking with long-standing practice, Mexico extradited four major drug traffickers to the United States late Friday.

U.S. law-enforcement officials have long complained about Mexican reluctance to hand over drug traffickers indicted in crimes north of the Rio Grande, as many drug kingpins have operated their networks from inside prisons.

Until now, the Mexican government has resisted the extraditions, arguing that the drug cartel leaders must face justice at home first.

"The actions overnight by the Mexican government are unprecedented in their scope and importance," U.S. Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales said Saturday.

Osiel Cardenas-Guillen, leader of the Gulf cartel in Tamaulipas state, was among the 21 suspects handed over to U.S. authorities. He is under indictment in Texas for alleged marijuana trafficking and threatening to kill three law-enforcement agents.

Also turned over were Ismael and Gilberto Higuera Guerrero, brothers in the Arellano Felix cartel in Tijuana, and Hector Palma Salazar, a former leader in the Sinaloa cartel.

All face racketeering and drug trafficking charges.