Suspect Held in U.S. Drug Agent’s Death

Rafael Caro Quintero, a prime suspect in the kidnap-murder of American narcotics agent Enrique Camarena Salazar, was detained in Costa Rica and efforts are proceeding for his extradition, the Mexican attorney general’s office announced today.

Office spokesman Francisco Fonseca said Florentino Ventura, chief of the Interpol group in Mexico, left today for Costa Rica to head the investigation.

Camarena, 37, a special agent for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, was kidnaped Feb. 7 within sight of the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara. His body, along with that of a Mexican pilot who worked with him, was found March 5 on a ranch 60 miles southeast of that city.

Fonseca said it was believed that Quintero “entered Costa Rica illegally in a private aircraft owned by him” and was taken into custody by Costa Rican police.

Authorities in Costa Rica made no public comment on the report.

The Mexican attorney general’s office had said previously that Quintero was being sought for Camarena’s murder.

Seven men, including six state policemen and a former officer, have been ordered to stand trial in the case, three on charges that include kidnaping and murder. Officials had said that two of the policemen had abducted Camarena and the pilot, Alfredo Zavala Avelar, and delivered them to Quintero.