NEW YORK. - The prosecutors of the Eastern District Court in New York requested to designate as anonymous the jury that will be part of the trial of Rafael Caro Quintero, accused of leading a criminal organization and for drug trafficking.

The jury would also have a special transport to the court, as part of the security process and under the argument of "protecting their integrity" and avoiding "harassment".

QUERY LENGTH LIMIT EXCEEDED. MAX ALLOWED QUERY : 500 CHARS

However, the defense of Caro Quintero, led by lawyer Mark DeMarco, must respond to the requests of prosecutors, although at Wednesday's hearing he said they would oppose it.

Federal Judge Frederic Block questioned DeMarco about why he would oppose the petition.

"For the same reasons as in other cases," the defender launched. Judge Block said he will make a decision following the response to the motions at a hearing scheduled for October 1, although he said his determination would "hardly" be against prosecutors.

The Prosecutor's Office was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Peter Navarro, who pointed out that there is no proposal for a plea agreement for Caro Quintero to change his decision from "not guilty" to "guilty", but he said that they would hold talks with the defense.

The trial hearing scheduled to begin in March 2027 lasted just 10 minutes. The judge entered at 11:05 a.m. local time and a few seconds later the defendants, Rafael Caro Quintero, and Ismael Quintero Arellanes, who face parallel proceedings under the USA v. JOHN DOE case, were entered.

At the hearing, where both defendants looked relaxed and smiling at various times, at least 17 federal officers attended, including prosecutors and DEA agents, an office for which the case is particularly significant, due to the murder of DEA special agent Enrique Camarena, alias "Kiki", which occurred in the 1980s in Mexico.

Both defendants are in the Brooklyn MDC.

Will there be a partnership agreement?

Judge Block asked the parties if there are discussions about a possible plea agreement, to avoid a trial. Prosecutor Navarro said there is a formal proposal.

“There is no [agreement] proposal,” he said. “But we could have conversations [with the defense].”

At the hearing, it was also recalled that this case is considered "complex", in addition to the fact that the prosecutors requested authorization on the Procedure for Classified Information (CIPA), although on that request - and even on that of the jury - the judge indicated that they were "premature".

Caro Quintero is accused of (1) running a criminal enterprise on an ongoing basis; (2) participating in an international marijuana distribution conspiracy; (3) participating in an international heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine distribution conspiracy; (3) and using firearms to promote drug trafficking.

Although Caro Quintero does not formally face an accusation for the murder of agent Camarena, the Prosecutor's Office highlights that fact as one of the main aggravating factors against him.

Ismael Quintero Arellanes is charged with three of the same charges (2, 3, and 4) as Caro Quintero.

The decisions in this process involve Caro Quintero and Quintero Arellanes, who has a lawyer representing him, but at some point on the way to the trial or during it there could be particular motions for Quintero Arellanes.