Justice, on Both Sides of the Border

Agustin Vazquez Mendoza landed on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list four years ago for allegedly ordering his henchmen to kill a Drug Enforcement Administration agent in Arizona. Now he’s under arrest, but in Mexico, which must decide whether to extradite a Mexican citizen to face charges in the United States. Mexican law officers mounted a nationwide manhunt to capture Vazquez and certainly want him brought to justice, but some alleged traffickers have won appeals against extradition in recent months.

Most countries are understandably reluctant to hand over a citizen to be tried in a foreign country. In addition, the language in the current Mexico-U.S. treaties clearly specifies that neither country is bound to extradite a citizen. However, there are circumstances in the Vazquez case that should make it easier for Mexico to send him off.

Since President Ernesto Zedillo took office, there has been a shift of attitude in Mexico on extradition. At least nine Mexican suspects have been sent to be tried in the United States. In two of those cases, the suspects allegedly killed U.S. immigration officials, inviting comparison with the Vazquez case.

According to U.S. authorities, Vazquez ordered the murder of agent Richard Fass in order to keep both a drug delivery and the $160,000 the undercover agent was about to pay for it.

Perhaps the most persuasive argument is that Vazquez, who fled to Mexico after the killing, is not accused of a crime in Mexico and if he is not extradited will have to be set free. Mexico’s foreign minister should consent to the U.S. extradition request and petition the justice system to send him north as quickly as the legal process allows.