Overview

• The family of Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena has filed a federal lawsuit against the Sinaloa Cartel and three of its leaders for his 1985 kidnapping, torture, and murder.
• The lawsuit was made possible by President Trump's January 2025 designation of Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
• Rafael Caro Quintero, recently extradited to the U.S., faces charges including murder conspiracy and drug trafficking; the other two defendants remain under house arrest in Mexico.
• The family seeks damages under the federal Anti-Terrorism Act for international terrorism, wrongful death, and emotional distress, with potential seizure of cartel assets if successful.
• The case has reignited discussions on expanding terror designations for other cartels to enable similar lawsuits by victims' families.