The defense of Rafael Caro Quintero asked a federal court in New York to reject the US prosecutor's request for the Mexican drug trafficker to be tried by an anonymous jury, considering that such a measure would violate his right to a fair trial and would affect the principle of presumption of innocence.

In a brief presented before the Court of the Eastern District of New York, the lawyers of the former leader of the extinct Guadalajara Cartel argued that keeping the identity of the jury members confidential would generate, from the beginning of the process, a perception that their client represents an extraordinary danger, which could influence the evaluation of the evidence before it is revealed during the trial.

The defense maintained that the anonymity of the jury is an exceptional measure that should only be applied when there are specific elements that prove a risk for the participants in the process and stated that, in this case, the prosecution has not demonstrated that these circumstances are present.

He also pointed out that the measure could send an implicit message of guilt to the jurors themselves.

For its part, the United States government has insisted that the case requires special security measures due to the profile of the accused and the relevance of the judicial process, which is why it previously requested that the jury members remain anonymous and have protection during the trial.

Rafael Caro Quintero faces various charges in the United States related to organized crime, drug trafficking and the kidnapping, torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, which occurred in 1985.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty and his trial is scheduled to begin in March 2027 in New York.