United States Drug Enforcement Administration

PHOENIX - The U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA) unveiled a billboard in Phoenix, Arizona seeking information for the capture of Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro-Quintero - .  The new reward is being offered by the U.S. Department of State under the Narcotics Reward Program for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Caro-Quintero, who kidnapped, tortured and murdered DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985. 

Caro-Quintero had served 28 years of a 40-year prison term for his crimes when a Mexican court ordered his release on August 9, 2013 on procedural grounds.  Caro-Quintero is a fugitive from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on felony murder, felony kidnapping, and other criminal charges. Caro-Quintero was the mastermind of the atrocious acts against Special Agent Camarena, and DEA will vigorously continue its efforts to ensure that Caro-Quintero faces charges in the United States for the crimes he committed. 

The Narcotics Reward Program was established by Congress in 1986 as a tool to assist the U.S. Government in bringing to justice major violators of U.S. narcotics laws responsible for bringing hundreds of tons of illicit drugs into the United States each year.  The program gives the Secretary of State statutory authority to offer rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of named narcotics traffickers.

The billboard is located on US 60 Grand Ave south of 31st Ave., in Phoenix, Arizona. The public is asked to call 1-866-629-6036 - or e-mail at, CAROQUINTEROTIPS@usdoj.gov - for any information leading to Caro-Quintero’s arrest and/or conviction.  Similar billboards are being placed in El Paso, Texas, San Diego, Calif. and Los Angeles, Calif.   

The Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) manages the rewards program in close coordination with the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and other interested U.S. agencies.

For more information on Caro-Quintero, visit www.dea.gov. -   For additional information on the Narcotics Reward Program, please see http://www.state.gov/j/inl/narc/rewards/index.htm - .

Please direct questions to Public Information Officer Ramona Sanchez (602) 664-5725.