President Trump took a victory lap after the Justice Department secured the extradition of 29 major crime figures from Mexico, including the man accused of killing a DEA agent.

The administration declared the 29 to be “terrorists,” and said the fact they are now in U.S. custody is the result of Mr. Trump’s order to have Mexican cartels declared to be terrorist organizations.

“The previous administration allowed these criminals to run free and commit crimes all over the world. The Trump administration is declaring these thugs as terrorists, because that is what they are, and demanding justice for the American people,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The Justice Department said the 29 were responsible for “massive quantities of poison” — drugs including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl — and “associated acts of violence.”

One of the 29, Rafael Caro Quintero, has been on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s most wanted fugitives list in connection with the slaying of DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985.

Another, Martin Sotelo, is accused of participating in the 2022 slaying of Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd in Wake County, North Carolina. He escaped a U.S. jail and made his way to Mexico, where he fought extradition.

“The era of harming Americans and walking free is over,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.

The Justice Department said many of the 29 had been subjects of “longstanding” extradition requests that weren’t honored under President Biden.

It took the State Department’s terrorist organization declaration — a response to a Trump executive order — to break the logjam, the administration said.

All 29 face charges that include up to life in prison as a potential punishment.

“We will prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers — and in some cases, given their lives — to protect innocent people from the scourge of violent cartels,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.