DENVER -- After a two-decade manhunt, Denver federal authorities watched a Mexican drug lord plead guilty Friday to a $100 million marijuana smuggling scheme.

Miguel Angel Caro-Quintero, 46, a reputed member of the violent Sonora drug cartel, pleaded guilty in Denver federal court to running a criminal enterprise that smuggled more than 100 tons of Mexican pot into Colorado and other Western states between 1985 and 1988. He also admitted to conspiring to ship thousands of pounds of pot into Arizona.

Caro-Quintero, who managed the cartel's massive pot growing and transportation operations in Mexico, was indicted by federal grand juries in Denver in 1990 and in Arizona in 1994.

But he remained a fugitive in Mexico until he was arrested by authorities there in 2001 and imprisoned for weapons violations. He was then extradited to the United States on Feb. 25, 2009.

The Sonora drug cartel was notorious for its ruthless brutality against anyone who got in their way.

Caro-Quintero's older brother, Rafael Caro-Quintero, Rafael Caro-Quintero, was convicted of being the mastermind behind the kidnapping and murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique Camarena in 1985. The brother is now serving 40-year prison sentence in Mexico.

“The guilty plea of Miguel Caro-Quintero is another step to closing the book on this once powerful and brutally violent criminal band of family members and associates,” said Denver DEA Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Sweetin. “He will now face justice for the misery and destruction he caused in both the United States and Mexico. This is yet another illustration that DEA and our courageous partners in Mexico are successfully attacking violent criminal organizations at every level.”

Authorities said the long-sought conviction of Caro-Quintero underscored international teamwork by local, state and federal law enforcement officials in Colorado, Arizona, Utah and Mexico.

“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the Department of Justice’s willingness to pursue drug kingpins no matter how long ago they were charged with a crime," U.S. Attorney David Gaouette said. "I especially want to thank all of the law enforcement agents and officers here in Colorado as well as in Arizona and Mexico for their perseverance in bringing this major drug trafficker to justice.”

Caro-Quintero faces between 10 years and 20 years in prison for the Colorado case. He faces a maximum five years imprisonment for the Arizona case.

Caro-Quintero, who appeared at the hearing in custody, is scheduled to be sentence for his criminal conduct on Feb. 4.