(AP). Social Media: Facebook. [2] Camarena earned further enemies by discovering that the CIA was working with the cartels to fund anti-communist Contras in Nicaragua. He spoke Spanish, had done extensive undercover work, and had even spoken with Kiki over the phone on numerous occasions. Desperados: Latin Drug Lords, U.S. Lawmen, and the War America Can't Win, El Sicario: The Autobiography of a Mexican Assassin, Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive. 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. The report does not specify a date on which this occurred. Rafael Caro Quintero escaped in a SETCO plane, piloted by a CIA Pilot. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. As a result of the confrontation, 19 {Mexican police} agents were killed. [3][6], The series features interviews with real persons involved in Camarena's life and death. Special Award. .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration. Mika Camarena, in an interview with USA Today, also said U.S. prosecutors and agents told her that they are investigating accounts allegedly tying the DEA official and CIA operative to her husbands death, but did not elaborate. For more than 30 hours, Caro-Quintero and others interrogated Camarena and crushed his skull, jaw, nose and cheekbones with a tire iron. Its good that Berrellez states early on that other people did some of the polishing and editing, because whoever did, know nothing about firearms. NOTORIOUS MEXICAN DRUG LORD ADDED TO FBIS MOST WANTED FUGITIVES LIST. And while the story is still percolating via Proceso, it has not picked up momentum in the United States for reasons that are clear: it is still thin. received the prestigious DEA Administrator's Award. It is well known that the CIA has been involved in drug trafficking for decades. Meet Sosie Bacon: The Newest Cast Member on Narcos: Mexico', 'How to Fix a Drug Scandal's Kris Foster Might Still Be in Legal Trouble. I hope you continue to write. 'Narcos: Mexico': Is Real-Life Drug Lord Flix Gallardo Alive Today? 30 Best Fuck You Songs For Very Difficult Moments. Enjoy a great reading experience when you borrow the Kindle edition of this book with your Kindle Unlimited membership. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Actually conducting the interrogation. The DEA and Camarena had been utilizing a series of wiretaps to make sizeable drug busts inside Mexico. It's been canceled forever and it's a cover-up and they don't want the truth to come out., Hi there. As Berrellez told The Post, cartel leaders and American operatives wanted to find out what [Kiki] knew about collusion between the cartel and the CIA and what he might spill upon his upcoming reassignment to the United States. I fell down a rabbit hole and ended up here, devouring every last punctuation mark of this look into the life of a Bad Ass. Courtesy of Amazon Studios. 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? CONTRAS trained on Drug Lords Veracruz ranch. DEA Agent Hector Berrellez On Getting Revenge For Kiki Camarena The world needs more people like you. We need to make justice., Convicted drug lord, killer freed from prison, MEXICAN OFFICIAL IN 2016: CARO-QUINTERO GETTING BACK INTO DRUG TRADE. Supervisor and Special Agent, with Hector took his leave as one of the most decorated DEA agents in the history of the organization, and has since then, become a highly sought after Certified Polygraph Examiner. The most extensive database on organized crime in the Americas. But suffice it to say that the U.S. government doesnt look good in any of the stories Hector tells. San Diego U.S. Attorney William Kennedy disclosed in 1982 that the CIA was trying to block the case against Nazar Haro on grounds that he was a vital intelligence source in Mexico and Central America. Meet Hector Berrellez: The Former DEA Agent in Amazon's 'The Last Narc' [5] On November 2, Proceso followed up with a story drawing from a public event in which other former DEA agents confirmed the connections between the CIA and members of the cartel but denied assertions the agency was involved in Camarena's murder. This may sound dramatic but if you pay attention to the nuances of Berrellez writing one may understand why. When DEA narcotics agent Enrique Kiki Camarena was kidnapped and interrogated in 1985 by the leaders of Mexicos Guadalajara Cartel, it was like a party. Former DEA Agent Sues Amazon Studios for Portrayal in 'The - Variety In fact, his peers bullied him till his father had enough and urged him to learn the art of fighting. Amazing insight on not only the investigation, but also to the man conducting it! Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. Those last two factors set off alarm bells for Berrellez, now 74. Parents: NA Nicknamed The DEAs Elliot Ness, Hector Berrellez became a man who was bent on creating a society with less crime, especially as related to drugs and terrorism. Kiki was reportedly nabbed near the American consulate in Guadalajara, at the behest of Rafael Caro Quintero and Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, partners in the cartel. Basically, justice is just that, a word. 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. ", 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.. Knowing that there is a lot in his cart, he decided to explore other careers in writing and production known for The Last Narc: A Memoir by the DEAs Notorious Agent (2021) and The Devils Garden (2016), Personal Profile He was a natural fit for the investigation. According to Charles Bowden and Molly Molloy's three-part story in the Medium publication Matter, Berrellez . "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. US intelligence present during DEA agent's torture, Scan this QR code to download the app now, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vhhUOaBM_E, Sicilia Falcon gross revenue; 3.7m per week. He started the security firm with his friend and former law enforcement official, Brandon Pender. The undated file photo distributed by the Mexican government shows Rafael Caro-Quintero. the U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese for heroism. In 1985, the colonial city was the base for most of the major narcotics traffickers. The Last Narc (TV series) - Wikipedia Spouse: NA There are good cops out there; Hector is one of them. ", "What's on TV Saturday: 'Seeing America With Megan Rapinoe' and 'The Last Narc', "Documentary alleges US involvement in 1985 death of DEA agent", "US probing claims that CIA operative, DEA official betrayal led to murder of agent: report", "The Last Narc release date, cast, trailer: When does the real Narcos documentary air? It conveys the impression that you are actually there. Over 3 million titles. Just as insightful as the tv series, but more insightful on the investigator Hector Berrellez and what happened to him after he was hung out to dry! He was taken off the case, assigned to a desk job in DC and told not to reach out to any of his sources. 'The Last Narc' suggests CIA helped kidnap, murder DEA agent [9] Following the initiation of the discovery process, Kuykendall voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit.[12]. The 42-year-old had been at the agency for ten years, spoke Spanish, had an immense undercover experience and had even interacted with Camarena over the phone. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Thank you Mr. Berrellez for having the courage to Definitely worth purchasing. The investigation following Camarenas death resulted in numerous convictions of drug lords associated with the Guadalajara Cartel behind Camarenas death. DEA Agent Hector Berrellez: $8 Billion never seized from Drug - Reddit As the Netflix show readies itself for another season in 2020, the former director of DEA's powerful El Paso Intelligence Center in Texas, Phil Jordan, and retired DEA agent Hector Berrellez spoke exclusively to MEA World Wide (MEAWW) and disclosed how the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was directly involved in Camerana's brutal killing. Now retired from the DEA, Berrellez sounds disillusioned about his investigation for the DEA. In July 2020, Amazon released a docuseries, a real story called The Last Narcabout the death of Kiki Camarena at the age of 37. Berrellez was 42 at the time. I was glued. Mums the word.. He was the perfect fit, but his investigation uncovered a horrendous CIA link, which forced Hector to reconsider how to progress with the case. Amazon itself has not revealed whether the CIA had decided to cancel the series, or given any reason as to why the show is not currently available to stream. In 1974, he was arrested for drug possession there. In this March 8, 1985, file photo, Marine Corps pallbearers carry Camarenas casket after it arrived at North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego. 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. But as his team dug deeper into their investigation, they started to uncover more and more disturbing information. ", At some point between 1981 and 1984, Harrison said, "members of the Mexican Federal Judicial Police arrived at the ranch while on a separate narcotics investigation and were confronted by the guerrillas. Enhanced typesetting improvements offer faster reading with less eye strain and beautiful page layouts, even at larger font sizes. As a hero, he dedicated his whole life trying to right the wrongs that he encountered. The boom is a very good reading. Please try again. Watch the series. In January of 1989, Hector was chosen to lead Operation Leyenda. It would lead to his becoming a cop in his home of birth, Tucson. Berrellez was a career DEA man by the time he was handed the case. Unknown Details And Net Worth Of Lewis Hamiltons Brother, Who Are Lewis Hamiltons Parents? 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. Three former Mexican police officers who claimed to have once worked as security guards for cartel kingpins told USA Today they informed U.S. investigators that a DEA official and CIA operative were present at meetings where Camarenas abduction was being discussed. The Berrellez book reveals that the DEA is staffed with hundreds of CIA operatives including operatives that hold senior management positions. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, And is credited for his handling and solving of the Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Kennedy was subsequently fired by President Reagan. Plumlee claimed he had flown Caro Quintero to Guatemala after the murder because, according to the former contractor, he was "protected" by the White House. 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. Kikis body was quietly buried then all hell broke loose. They broke his ribs, drilled a hole in his head and tortured him with a cattle prod. From Colombia, he made his way back to Honduras where despite the international warrant for his arrest, he enjoyed a very public life. 4 stars because there are some small issues, like inconsistencies of the text with itself, typos and other. 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. The U.S. has placed him on the FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives list. Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2022. Your story resonates with me. Please keep an eye on our site, as you'll be able to see all available options there! 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, How to watch 'Citadel': Everything to know about Prime Video's new series, Here's how to watch Prime Video's spooky new thriller series, 'The Rig', Here's how to watch Prime Video's adorable new documentary 'Wildcat', Watch Chloe Grace-Moretz in "The Peripheral" on Prime Video tonight, Forget about 'Sharknado' 'Sharkcano' is a real thing, Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert, All the red carpet highlights and star-studded fashionfrom the Karl Lagerfeld-themed Met Gala, Bride killed, groom seriously hurt by drunk driver just minutes after leaving reception, Ed Sheeran: 'I'm done' if plaintiffs win in Marvin Gaye 'Let's Get it On' copyright lawsuit, Inside Met Gala 2023: See celebs let loose at extravagant dinner, Pregnant Rihanna arrives fashionably late in blooming white gown at Met Gala 2023, Internet Daddy Pedro Pascal shows off short shorts on Met Gala 2023 red carpet, Met Gala red carpet: Live updates of all the celebrity outfits. At this point, nothing would surprise me.. As Camarena lay dying, Caro-Quintero ordered a cartel doctor to keep the U.S. agent alive. Plumlee, for instance, says the man he flew to Guatemala did not identify himself. The undated file photo distributed by the Mexican government shows Rafael Caro-Quintero. 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. I fell down a rabbit hole and ended up here, devouring every last punctuation mark of this look into the life of a Bad Ass. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-05-mn-131-story.html, On Feb. 9, according to the report, Harrison told DEA agents Hector Berrellez and Wayne Schmidt that the CIA used Mexico's Federal Security Directorate, or DFS, "as a cover, in the event any questions were raised as to who was running the training operation. Blood on the Corn: A DEA Agent is Tortured and Killed in Mexico [1][3], The Last Narc was produced by Eli Holzmann and Aaron Saidman. The Last Narc on Amazon Prime narrates the tale of how DEA agent Kiki Camarenas death exposed the conspiracy that extended from Mexicos drug cartels to the hallowed halls in Washington DC. Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2020. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Hector Berrellez Now: Where is the DEA Agent Today? Update The story connecting Mexico's infamous Guadalajara Cartel to the United States' top spy agency in the 1980s is not fiction, even if the assertion that the agency helped kill a US drug agent probably is. Docs Reveal CIA-Guadalajara Link, Not Conspiracy - InSight Crime This page is not available in other languages. enlightening take on the futility of the war on drugs, Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2022. Basically, justice is just that, a word. There he was convicted to 40 years in prison. This story has been shared 152,008 times. Also, Hector Berrellez has been dubbed an expert in terrorism, security protection, and threat assessment by the United States Government. Many of the bodies showed signs of torture; the bodies had been drawn and quartered.". Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. [5] The agent, Hector Berrellez, states that the CIA agent Flix Ismael Rodrguez helped torture Camerena to learn what Camarena knew about US connections to Mexican cartels. As a victim, he was betrayed by the very people who tasked him with fighting the societal evils that seem overwhelming. 10 Facts To Know About Dr. Michelle Oakleys Daughter. Was the Mexican cartel . Berrellez was a career DEA man by the time he was handed the case. Actually taping Kiki, Phil Jordan, former director of the DEA's El Paso Intelligence Center, told Fox News in 2013. Berrellez begins his book I am a man who is haunted by the past. The series was released by Amazon in July 2020. But many former DFS agents remain active, especially in the Mexico City police department. The mystery was how they got away with it. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. At the time, as a Supervisor and Special Agent, he gained immense knowledge of counter-terrorism and narcotics enforcement. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes.