Reputed Mexico drug kingpin lands in Texas court
By DANE SCHILLER
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
April 27, 2010, 8:47PM

Juan Jose Quintero Payan, suspected leader of the Juarez Cartel, one of Mexico's biggest drug organizations, was arrested Friday in the northwestern state of Jalisco.

An aging drug kingpin targeted since 1978 was finally extradited from Mexico to Texas, where prosecutors contend his syndicate pumped tons of drugs and millions of dollars through Houston, California, Arizona and elsewhere.

Juan Jose Quintero Payan, 68, is the alleged head of the Quintero syndicate, based in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The organization is tied by name and blood to the traffickers who helped kidnap, torture and murder DEA agent Enrique “Kikiâ€