Barrio Azteca: Drug gang leaders extradited from Mexico to the United States

The leaders of the drug trafficking gang known as Barrio Azteca were extradited from Mexico to the United States and were brought before a Texas court.

The extradition of the leaders of the Barrio Azteca gang comes amid Donald Trump 's designation of Mexican drug cartels as terrorists.

As well as the new announcement of tariffs on Mexico and Canada , also a consequence of Donald Trump “not being happy” with the measures implemented against drug trafficking.

The United States Department of Justice reported that the leaders of the Barrio Azteca gang, Eduardo Ravelo and Enrique Guajardo López , were extradited from Mexico on February 20, 2025.

However, today, Monday, February 24, the leaders of the Barrio Azteca gang made their initial appearance in the Western District of Texas, although not only for the crime of drug trafficking .

Barrio Azteca leaders are accused of their alleged involvement in the murder of three employees of the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on March 13, 2010.

In addition to their involvement in the murders of the three workers, along with the crime of drug trafficking in the United States , the leaders of Barrio Azteca are accused of criminal organization and acts of violence.

For this reason, if convicted in the United States after their extradition, the leaders of the Barrio Azteca gang could face life imprisonment, as determined by the Department of Justice of that country.

Regarding their trial, the leaders of the Barrio Azteca gang will be tried by a judge in a federal district court, although it is not mentioned which one.

U.S. authorities have highlighted the extradition of the leaders of the Barrio Azteca gang , saying it is the result of “close” coordination with Mexico.

“The extradition and custody in the United States of these two defendants, both alleged members of Barrio Azteca operating along the border, is essential to our mission to dismantle these dangerous criminal organizations.

With the assistance of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, this United States Attorney's Office will aggressively prosecute Ravelo and Guajardo throughout this case for their alleged involvement in the 2010 Consulate murders and other gang-related activities."

Margarita Leachman, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas

In addition to the United States' efforts to dismantle criminal organizations and not forget the murders of Leslie Ann Enríquez, her husband Arthur Redelfs and Jorge Alberto Salcido.

According to the United States Department of Justice, the Barrio Azteca gang (also called Los Aztecas ) is a criminal organization and armed wing of the Juárez Cartel , whose leaders were extradited from Mexico .

The United States accuses, along with its leaders , at least 35 other people linked to Barrio Azteca , on different charges, including:

• drug trafficking
• racketeering
• retaliation against US law enforcement
• extortion
• money laundering
• obstruction of justice
• murder

In addition to Eduardo Ravelo and Enrique Guajardo López, who were extradited today , another alleged leader of Barrio Azteca is Arturo Gallegos Castrellón “el Farmero,” who was found guilty in 2014 in Texas, United States.