ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɪks ɪt kˈeɪm tə lˈaɪt ðætðə dɹˈʌɡ ɛnfˈoːɹsmənt ɐdmˌɪnɪstɹˈeɪʃən ʌvðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts hæd kənsˈɪdɚd ɹɑːmˈɛɹoʊ ðə lˈaɪkli hˈɛd əvə mˈeɪdʒɚ dɹˈʌɡ kɑːɹtˈɛl.
In 2006 it came to light that the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States had considered Romero the likely head of a major drug cartel.