Mexico has sent drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who is wanted for the notorious killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985, to the United States with 28 other prisoners requested by the U.S. government, the Justice Department confirmed Thursday evening.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — 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 other prisoners requested by the U.S. government, the Mexican government said in a statement Thursday.

Mexico on Thursday handed over major figures in the country's criminal underworld to U.S. authorities, part of a surprise extradition of nearly 30 jailed convicts or others accused of ties to violent drug cartels.