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.

By Drazen Jorgic, Laura Gottesdiener and Lizbeth Diaz MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - 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.

Mexico's attorney general's office and the security ministry confirmed that officials were handing over 29 cartel figures to the U.S.