A Mexican drug lord, Rafael Caro Quintero, imprisoned for the death of a DEA agent, is complaining about the lack of a television in his US prison cell. Caro Quintero, formerly a powerful figure in the Guadalajara Cartel, has petitioned a New York court, alleging that he is enduring severe isolation and restricted communication with the outside world.
His legal team contends that he is being treated as a terrorist without a fair trial since his extradition to the US in February. Mark DeMarco, his defense attorney, is urging a judge to modify the terms of his confinement, citing concerns about his mental and physical well-being.
Following his extradition from Mexico earlier this year, the 72-year-old has been held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center under Special Administrative Measures (SAMs). These measures are enforced to prevent dangerous communication that could result in harm to others.
Caro Quintero’s lawyers claim he is confined in a lighted, windowless cell for 23 hours a day, with no physical contact with family members and limited phone calls. They argue that despite his eligibility, he has not been provided with a television, only a radio that he cannot use effectively due to language barriers.
The legal team criticizes the imposed restrictions, asserting that they are based on unfounded rumors rather than factual evidence. Caro Quintero faces charges related to the 1985 killing of DEA agent Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena and has been awaiting trial since his extradition.
In a separate incident, reports have surfaced indicating that Mexican cartels have been targeting young children at fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s for recruitment into criminal activities. The gangs entice children with promises of a better life or lucrative opportunities before coercing them into criminal operations, leaving families distraught as they search for their missing loved ones.