The DEA and Camarena had been utilizing a series of wiretaps to make sizeable drug busts inside Mexico. The four-part series, released in July, tells the true story of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, a special agent with the DEA, who was kidnapped, tortured and murdered in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1985.. The more you read about US agencies, the more you will be glad you don't live there.. Got this book after watching the Amazon Prime docu-series of the same name. For 30 days, American agents kicked down doors, said Russell. But there was one proof, it ended up becoming one of the biggest investigations in the history of DEA. The undated file photo distributed by the Mexican government shows Rafael Caro-Quintero. I want the truth to be out, Mika Camarena, Enriques widow, told the outlet. 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Hector was given $3 million per year and a team of 20 agents to uncover what really happened to Kiki. [3][6], The series features interviews with real persons involved in Camarena's life and death. He survived gunfights, assassination attempts and a deep state conspiracy. Shortly thereafter he became the key bridge between the Guadalajara Cartel and the Medellin Cartel.He bought large tracts of land and set up companies in Honduras, among them SETCO. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. They also claimed the DEA official accepted cartel money. Berrellez was a career DEA man by the time he was handed the case. "Beginning in 1984, SETCO was the principal company used by the Contras to transport supplies and personnel to the FDN [Fuerza Democratica Nicaraguense, a Contra faction], carrying at least a million rounds of ammunition, food, uniforms, and other military supplies to the Contras from 1983 through 1985," the report says. Kuykendall asserts that the show bolsters its false narratives by relying on unreliable, discredited and unnamed sources. The money is used for black operations even Congress and the president are unaware of. From there, the trafficker made his way to Costa Rica where he was captured and sent back to Mexico. the U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese for heroism. He investigated a fellow agents murder and uncovered more than he bargained for. [8] The newspaper writes that The Last Narc makes a convincing argument about Camarena's death: "In a blunt way, this work by Amazon also establishes something that has been ventilated before: the Sinaloa Cartel was a creation of the PRI regime through the DFS and the DFS, in turn, was a creation of the CIA. "The CIA was the source. He spoke Spanish, had done extensive undercover work, and had even spoken with Kiki over the phone on numerous occasions. There was a problem loading your book clubs. As a victim, he was betrayed by the very people who tasked him with fighting the societal evils that seem overwhelming. The Proceso stories argue the CIA had a direct relationship to the Guadalajara Cartel via corrupt Mexican police, which appears, by all accounts, to be true. Anyone wanting the real story about Kikis murder should read this. The brutal murder forced the DEA to launch Operation Leyenda, and Hector Berrellez was put in charge of the investigation. Reading this book has put a lot into perspective for me. He is famous for books such as The Last Narc: A Memoir by the DEAs Notorious Agent (2021), 2023 JukeBugs - A Property of GlassWorks Media. [2] The docuseries interviews the DEA agent who spearheaded the investigation of Camarena's death. The series was released by Amazon in July 2020. The details were sketchy -- reports of a CIA asset recording the torture session came via Mexican informants, for instance -- but the sources were strong. or redistributed. .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}Enjoy features only possible in digital start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more. The case definitely opened new pages in the progression of time with different facts coming up. Specifically, the Show falsely claims that Plaintiff received bribes from the Cartel, that he was present at Cartel meetings where Camarenas kidnapping was planned, that he then aided and abetted the execution of that plan, and that he deliberately sabotaged the trial of one of Camarenas murderers by lying for the Cartel.. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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But in 1846, a new wave of migration was coming from the East Americanos gives us a bit of interesting history that is relevant in the United States current internal friction (chapter Antepasado). The person writing spoke of the first time he killed a man, shooting him twice in the stomach with a Good 1st person account. All Rights Reserved. Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2022. The author gives us a quick but good read a story on the various aspects of his career, our nation, our neighbor, and his personal journey. Plumlee, for instance, says the man he flew to Guatemala did not identify himself. On November 9, the magazine offered still more details, via an interview with Plumlee, of the alleged connections between the US spy agency and the Guadalajara Cartel's Rafael Caro Quintero, the convicted intellectual author of the Camarena murder. The world needs more people like you. ", A CIA spokesperson previously has told Fox News that its ridiculous to suggest that the CIA had anything to do with the murder of a U.S. federal agent or the escape of his killer.. Cartel partner Rafael Caro Quintero in custody in 2005. The CIA considers itself above the law which combined with its intelligence expertise and drug money is a major threat to our democracy. A look at the publicly available documents shows that the US worked closely with at least one member of the cartel, but that it was not the infamous Mexican intellectual author of the murder. Each one of them pointed to the same man. Berrellez retired in 1996. In the story, an account of the involvement of Bellerez was exposed, as well as those of the widowed wife of Camerena, Mika Camarena, and people involved in the life and death of the former DEA agent. The person writing spoke of the first time he killed a man, shooting him twice in the stomach with a .357 magnum, until the clip was empty. The .357 magnum is revolver ammunition and the writer should have used the word cylinder. That bothered me. SOURCE: [Page: H2955] INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1999 (House of Representatives - May 07, 1998) A Tangled Web: A History of CIA Complicity in Drug International Trafficking. Very interesting read! He has also been working with Brandon Pender, his long term friend, and business associate. We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. CONTRAS trained on Drug Lords Veracruz ranch. This may sound dramatic but if you pay attention to the nuances of Berrellez writing one may understand why. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. ", Harrison also said that "representatives of the DFS, which was the front for the training camp, were in fact acting in consort with major drug overlords to ensure a flow of narcotics through Mexico into the United States. But he talked to guys who hand-delivered the drugs., The Last Narc chronicles Berrellezs investigation. DEA Agent Hector Berrellez On Getting Revenge For Kiki Camarena He survived gunfights, assassination attempts and a deep state conspiracy. Is The Last Narc canceled? They gave them to us," Berrellez told Fox News. DEA agent Hector Berrellez says CIA took it off; Tiller Russel said the CIA pressured Amazon to cancel TV series (KIKI Camarena murder) due to a National Security issue. The Berrellez book reveals that the DEA is staffed with hundreds of CIA operatives including operatives that hold senior management positions. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2020, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2021, The last narc amazing insight into the D.E.A in mexico, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 28, 2021, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download. This story is 100% true and shocking in everything it states about the death of Kiki, and US justice. MEXICO CITY, JULY 15 -- The trial in Los Angeles of four men accused of involvement in the 1985 murder of a U.S. narcotics agent has brought to the surface years of resentment by Drug Enforcement Administration officials of the Central Intelligence Agency's long collaboration with a former Mexican secret police unit that was heavily involved in drug trafficking. thirty years extensive experience in counter terrorism and narcotics US intelligence present during DEA agent's torture The court overturned this decision in early November,and authorities are searching for Caro Quintero anew. The 1996 retired DEA agent has also featured in The Last Narc series a true story that gives an insight into the death of Camarena. As Camarena lay dying, Caro-Quintero ordered a cartel doctor to keep the U.S. agent alive. But it also reconstructs the Matta Ballesteros story to fit its narrative. Its good that Berrellez states early on that other people did some of the polishing and editing, because whoever did, know nothing about firearms. Enjoy a great reading experience when you borrow the Kindle edition of this book with your Kindle Unlimited membership. "In (Camarenas) interrogation room, I was told by Mexican authorities, that CIA operatives were in there. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. A prosecution witness in the Enrique Camarena murder trial testified Friday in Los Angeles federal court that Mexican drug lord Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo told him that he believed his narcotics trafficking operation was safe because he was supplying arms to the Nicaraguan Contras. Kikis death launched Operation Leyenda, the largest DEA homicide investigation ever. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. He spoke Spanish, had done extensive undercover work, and had even spoken with Kiki over the phone on numerous occasions. In the series, Berrellez claims his efforts were shut down by his DEA bosses after he pieced together details about the CIAs cocaine and gun operation. Mexico has arrested one of El Chapo's sons, Ovidio, at a bitter cost. Did the CIA Torture an Undercover DEA Agent for a Mexican Drug Cartel? Impact of Illicit Fentanyl Felt on Both Sides of US-Mexico Border, InSight Crime Staff Cited as Experts by International Media, Media Looks to InSight Crime for Ecuador Knowledge, The Venezuela Organized Crime Observatory Continues to Be a Benchmark in the Region. Why AI Has Some Viewers Asking Which Film Actors Are Real. [5] A real eye opener,brilliant read five stars the truth is far from what you're made to think ,I fully recommend the last narc. He was 42 years old at the time and had worked in the DEA for more than 10 years. "[2], According to the Florida-based CE Noticias Financieras, The Last Narc "is notable" for approaching the story of Camarena's death beyond the ordinary patriotic narratives of the US and Mexican government. [9][10], On December 21, 2020 James Kuykendall, former chief of a DEA field office in Mexico, sued Amazon and the makers of the documentary for falsely claiming he was complicit in the murder of Kiki Camarena. Former Drug Enforcement Administration agent James Kuykendall is suing Amazon Studios, along with those associated with its docuseries The Last Narc, for defamation as a result of his characterization on the show. EXCLUSIVE | 'The Last Narc' has been canceled? DEA agent Hector This page is not available in other languages. Date of birth: September 27, 1946 He received the Federal This may sound dramatic but if you pay attention to the nuances of Berrellez writing one Berrellez begins his book I am a man who is haunted by the past. The retired agent, Hector Berrellez, claims a former CIA agent participated in the torture of Camarena in order to find out what the agent knew about U.S. government connections to the drug cartels. We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. 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It also opened the eyes of many authors and reporters to state that Bellerez may have more informants than the CIA. There is, however, little documentation to back up the claims of CIA involvement and the statements of the sources are not all rock solid. The boom is a very good reading. According to the lawsuit who names the defendants as star and former DEA supervisor and special agent Hector Berrellez, assistant producer John Massaria, executive producer Tiller Russel, Good Pixel Productions and the Intellectual Property Corporation the Show masquerades as a factual documentary, but in reality, it aims to capitalize on Camarenas tragic murder by scandalizing it for profit and for entertainment value.. Legal Statement. enlightening take on the futility of the war on drugs, Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2022. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period. In a separate interview last Sept. 11, Harrison told the same two DEA agents that CIA operations personnel had stayed at the home of Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, one of Mexico's other major drug kingpins and an ally of Caro Quintero. When he was relieved with honor, he looked at the path of enforcing the law. Thirty-five years ago, it was not the same. Prior to its release, the documentarys director, Tiller Russell was said to have made 14-year of research about the murder and would live in fear of his life. Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, the DEA agent murdered in Mexico in 1985. He is now on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list with a reward of up to $20 million for information leading to his capture. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! By the late 1970s, after being released from jail, he had worked his way through the distribution chain and become a key operative of the Guadalajara Cartel. Hector Bellerez further made huge discoveries that led to the arrest of several drug lords in Mexico. Then the torture continued. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. By the mid-1980s, Mexican and US media referred to him as the Guadalajara Cartel's boss. Whether or not this was the case, DEA and Mexican officials interviewed for this article said that at a minimum, the CIA had turned a blind eye to a burgeoning drug trade in cultivating its relationship with the DFS and pursuing what it regarded as other U.S. national security interests in Mexico and Central America. This memoir is excellent!! Further along the writer said he was an OCS graduate, while concurrently a combat medic. Then, the person writing for Berrellez states later on he went through two 60 round clips firing an AK 47. This story is 100% true and shocking in everything it states about the death of Kiki, and US justice. The more you After I watched Amazon's prime video regarding Hector's story, I bought the book. Citizenship: Mexican At the time, as a Supervisor and Special Agent, he gained immense knowledge of counter-terrorism and narcotics enforcement. Amazon has encountered an error. - Tiller Russell , Film Director, THE LAST NARC Series on AMAZON, Hector was an old-school, dedicated and fearless lawman. We as a society can stop it if we join together, United. Was the Mexican cartel . DEA Agent Hector Berrellez: $8 Billion never seized from Drug Lord who Killed DEA Agent Enrique KIKI Camarena. Documentary alleges US involvement in 1985 death of DEA agent From Colombia, he made his way back to Honduras where despite the international warrant for his arrest, he enjoyed a very public life. "Back in the middle 1980s, the DFS, their main role was to protect the drug lords," former DEA agent Hector Berrellez, who led the investigation into Camarena's murder, told Fox News in 2013. In the end, Berrellezs investigation led to no indictments. The series showed those involved in the murder such as: See Also:Barbara Baekeland- Shocking Story Of Incest, Adultery, Murder- Everything To Know. (AP). Narcos Mexico Kiki Camarena murder DEA agent Phil Jordan Hector - MEAWW https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-07-mn-149-story.html, Informant Puts CIA at Ranch of Agents Killer, ByHENRY WEINSTEIN JULY 5, 1990 12 AM TIMES STAFF WRITER. 4 stars because there are some small issues, like inconsistencies of the text with itself, typos and other. He was tortured over a 30-hour period and then murdered. [5] He said that after he asked Jorge Godoy one interview question, Godoy drew a pistol. I wasted my time and exposed myself to all that danger., The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images. Buy this book. Spouse: NA His story has also been told through documentation that includes film. The mystery was how they got away with it. I went through an array of emotions while reading it. Hector is a hero, and a victim. Its not the first time the American intelligence assets have been accused of having a role in Camarenas demise. Its called The Last Narc, and its supposed to be available to start streaming on May 15, 2020. The lawsuit claims that the defendants acted with actual malice when producing and distributing the show, citing that they knew the series portrayal of Kuykendall to be false. This story has been shared 396,071 times. 7 Shocking Facts About GigaChad, Chantal Cadieux: 10 Unknown Facts About Jean-Marc Valle's Ex-wife. We've received your submission. Hector managed to find three men who had witnessed Kikis torture and murder. However, his name was listed in the lawsuit of DEA agent James Kuykendall in his sue against Amazon studios for defamation of name in The Last Narc. But will it make a difference to, Fentanyl continues to wreak havoc on both sides of the US-Mexico border, as Mexican security forces continue to seize the, The US trial of Genaro Garca Luna, the architect of Mexico's war on drugs, will seek to prove whether he, This week, InSight Crimes work was cited nine times in a newreportby the Organization of American States (OAS) titled The Impact of Organized Crime on Women,, This week, InSight Crime deputy editor, Juan Diego Posada, was interviewed by theAssociated Pressabout connections between theex-FARC mafiaand Brazilian criminal groups, and, As Ecuadors security crisis worsens, global media outlets have called on InSight Crime to provide expert knowledge on the criminal dynamics fueling the growing criminality.Americas Quarterly cited our work on, InSight Crime senior investigator Douwe den Held was interviewed by Chilean newspaperEl Mercuriothis week. His name was Felix Rodrguez. All rights reserved. As you might expect, the conspiracy theories surrounding The Last Narcs suspicious unavailability quickly began swirling online. Although Quintero, Carrillo and others were arrested by Mexican authorities for their involvement by the time Berrellez began to investigate, he believed that it went deeper perhaps to the CIA. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article. CONTRAS trained on Drug Lords Veracruz ranch. The suit alleges that Russell and Amazon representatives spoke with Kuykendall while the show was in development and despite Kuykendall demanding the show not be published due to its falsity, proceeded regardless. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? But suffice it to say that the U.S. government doesnt look good in any of the stories Hector tells. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [11] Amazon briefly removed the series from view, but later restored it. The Last Narc alleges that some US political operatives viewed Kiki as collateral damage in a larger mission to protect America against foreign enemies. His contributions to the law enforcement agency couldnt have him go unnoticed and as such received several awards including a heroism award from US Attorney General Ed Meese. Little by little, Hector Bellerez started to draw attention to himself when he led the arrest of several drug dealers. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/07/16/trial-in-camarena-case-shows-dea-anger-at-cia/e91baa2d-7231-47c3-94f4-30196209ecd0/, The Last Narc has been canceled? The Last Narc is a docuseries about the 1985 death of U.S. DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. His business and political connections attended parties at his lavish mansion and he gave handouts to the poor from his doorstep. To be sure, Matta Ballesteros was in Mexico since at least the early 1970s. The series interviews DEA agents and witnesses to Camarena's death who state that he was murdered by Mexican drug lords, with the complicity of the CIA. Launched by the DEA after the gruesome 1985 abduction, torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena by Mexican drug cartels, Leyenda was meant to find those responsible. Eventually, prosecutors did obtain tapes of Camarena's torture and murder. He would go through different people he knew could be of help in Mexico ranging from law enforcement agents to the office of the attorney general. Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2022. Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox. Docs Reveal CIA-Guadalajara Link, Not Conspiracy, 13 NOV 2013 BY STEVEN DUDLEY AND MICHAEL LOHMULLER, WHICH ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS SINDICATOS. Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2022. The fact that he lived to tell the tale is nothing short of miraculous. " According to previous accounts, Camerena was tortured and murdered by the cartel as revenge for uncovering a massive marijuana operation. The highest decorated DEA agent in history, Hector Berrellez sits down to discuss what happened to kidnapped CIA agent Kiki Camarena.