Mexico has sent drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985, to the United States with 28 prisoners requested by the U.S. government, a Mexican government official and other sources confirmed Thursday.

The unprecedented show of security cooperation comes as top Mexican officials are in Washington trying to head off the Trump administration's threat of imposing 25% tariffs on all Mexican imports.

Mexico has extradited Rafael Caro Quintero alongside 28 prisoners to the US. The extradition aims to address crimes including drug trafficking. This move is part of Mexico's efforts to prevent US tariffs threatened by President Trump.

Mexico extradited 29 cartel members, including infamous kingpin Rafael Caro Quintero, to the U.S. amid tariff threats. Caro Quintero, indicted for drug trafficking, faces an arraignment in Brooklyn. The move signals Mexico's largest handover in a decade,

Along with Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, 28 others were sent to the United States as the Trump administration turns up the pressure on drug trafficking organisations.

According to the Mexico government, the drug cartel members sent to the US on Thursday were brought from prisons across Mexico to board planes that took them to eight US cities.