 On May 1, 2019, Caro Quintero's longtime associate Ezequiel Godinez-Cervantes was arrested for violating his parole.In January 2020, Caro Quintero's nephew Ismael Quintero Arellanes was arrested in Mexico on drug and weapons charges.On May 26, 2020, Caro Quintero's lawyer filed for an appeal to drop not only more recent drug trafficking charges, but also charges filed against him in 2015 regarding the kidnapping and qualified homicide of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena and Mexican pilot Alfredo Zavala Avelar, stating Caro Quintero did not have any chance of obtaining the financial resources needed to survive a new trial.