DENVER, COLORADO (BNO NEWS) – A reputed member of the Mexican Sonora Cartel was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for operating a large scale marijuana trafficking organization in Colorado, prosecutors said on Friday.

Miguel Angel Caro-Quintero, 46, a resident and national of Mexico, was concurrently sentenced to 5 years for his involvement in an Arizona drug trafficking organization. The defendant admitted recently to traffic more than 100 tons of marijuana from 1985 through 1988, resulting in more than $100 million sent to Mexico.

Caro-Quintero was arrested in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico and extradited to the United States on February 25, 2009. He was serving a prison sentence in Mexico for weapons possession crimes.

“This is an outstanding example of law enforcement teamwork involving not only agencies within this country but also in the Republic of Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney David Gaouette.

The defendant managed the operations within Mexico such, including growing and harvesting large quantities of marijuana in Mexico to supply the drug trafficking in Colorado and Arizona. This trafficking venture required many hired workers as well as vehicles, land and farming equipment.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Jeffery Sweetin said “The sentencing today of Miguel Caro Quintero sends a message to all who engage in this criminal activity.”

The defendant and his brother, Rafael Caro-Quintero, were identified as significant narcotics traffickers under The Kingpin Act in June 2000. Rafael Caro-Quintero is serving a 40 year prison sentence for the murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique Camarena in 1985.