Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. The investigation following Camarenas death resulted in numerous convictions of drug lords associated with the Guadalajara Cartel behind Camarenas death. An investigation ensued but petered out until Berrellez signed on in 1989, spending four years and some $12 million much of which went toward buying information from snitches. Now, Berrellez stated up front that he had help writing this, and I figure whoever helped him doesnt know anything about guns or the Armys distinction between commissioned officers and combat medics. His name was Felix Rodrguez. During his trial, neither he nor his lawyers ever raised the CIA's possible connections to the cartel or the agency's possible role in the murder of Camarena. We need to make justice., Convicted drug lord, killer freed from prison, MEXICAN OFFICIAL IN 2016: CARO-QUINTERO GETTING BACK INTO DRUG TRADE. 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. Former DEA Agent Sues Amazon Studios for Portrayal in 'The - Variety DEA Agent Hector Berrellez: $8 Billion never seized from Drug Lord who Killed DEA Agent Enrique KIKI Camarena. As a result, Camarena was murdered because he had discovered, and was about to expose, the conspiracy. Matta Ballesteros' nexus with the Guadalajara Cartel eventually caught up with him. By the early 1980s, the DFS also had gained a reputation as practically a full-time partner of the Mexican drug lords. Actually taping Kiki, Phil Jordan, former director of the DEA's El Paso Intelligence Center, told Fox News in 2013. By September 1989, he learned from witnesses of CIA involvement. It hasnt yet killed me, but it has debilitated me, seeping up and into my roots, poisoning me but keeping me alive. Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. According to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sources and documents, the Mexican drug-trafficking cartel that kidnapped, tortured and murdered DEA agent Enrique Camarena in the central city of Guadalajara in February 1985 operated until then with virtual impunity -- not only because it was in league with Mexico's powerful Federal Security Directorate (DFS), but because it believed its activities were secretly sanctioned by the CIA. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. All Rights Reserved. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Eventually, prosecutors did obtain tapes of Camarena's torture and murder. The DEA and Camarena had been utilizing a series of wiretaps to make sizeable drug busts inside Mexico. ", 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. Thank you Mr. Berrellez for having the courage to share your story and speaking your truth. Basically, justice is just that, a word. He maintains that the CIA functioned hand-in-glove with the cartel, allegedly using drug money to finance covert military operations, much like the Iran-Contra affair of the same era. I can go on and on with this. thirty years extensive experience in counter terrorism and narcotics Many of the bodies showed signs of torture; the bodies had been drawn and quartered.". Few informants ended up losing their lives but he was able to have about 200 informants ready to be led to the United States to give accounts as witnesses. 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). 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. 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. This story is 100% true and shocking in everything it states about the death of Kiki, and US justice. One of the officers, George Godoy, said he spoke to DEA officials about the killing in April 2019 and that the U.S. government has given him and the other cops immunity in exchange for their accounts. Those last two factors set off alarm bells for Berrellez, now 74. But many former DFS agents remain active, especially in the Mexico City police department. I couldnt set this book down. The official trailer was also removed from the Amazon Prime Video page. Buy this book. Celine Dions Siblings: See All Her Brothers, Sisters, Other Family Members, Marguerite Belafonte: Life And Death Of The Actress, Marriage To Harry Belafonte, Other Facts, Top 9 Strongest Naruto Characters That Have Defined The Anime, Alia Rose Teena Maries Daughter Is Also A Singer: 10 Unknown Facts, Who Is Ralph Pittman? Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, the DEA agent murdered in Mexico in 1985. In February 1985, as Camarena left to meet his wife for lunch outside the U.S. consulate in Guadalajara, he was surrounded by officers from the DFS, a Mexican intelligence agency that no longer exists. Thirty-five years ago, it was not the same. Bar Association Medal of Valor, the Federal Executive Board Chairman's Page Flip is a new way to explore your books without losing your place. Legal Statement. ", 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.. The more you After I watched Amazon's prime video regarding Hector's story, I bought the book. He spoke Spanish, had done extensive undercover work, and had even spoken with Kiki over the phone on numerous occasions. [11] Amazon briefly removed the series from view, but later restored it. Spouse: NA Definitely worth purchasing. A former homicide cop, he'd joined the DEA more than a decade earlier as a prized recruit, a thrill-seeker and trained investigator who spoke Spanish without a. We are sorry. Its good that Berrellez states early on that other people did some of the polishing and editing, because whoever did, know nothing about firearms. 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 report does not specify a date on which this occurred. Besides this, the former DEA agent has also taken to writing. Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2021. Were not saying it looks like a total cover-up, but were not not saying that either. 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. They also claimed the DEA official accepted cartel money. 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. Enforcement Agent in the history of the bureau. DEA Agent Hector Berrellez: $8 Billion never seized from Drug - Reddit Hector was given $3 million per year and a team of 20 agents to uncover what really happened to Kiki. Social Media: Facebook. The brutal murder forced the DEA to launch Operation Leyenda, and Hector Berrellez was put in charge of the investigation. Hector and Brandons agency can also be contacted for executive protection. Citizenship: Mexican In a famous Inspector General's reporton alleged CIA ties to traffickers issued in 1998, for example, there is no mention of the Guadalajara Cartel, Caro Quintero or anything else related to the case. CIA took it off, Hector reportedly said. He started the security firm with his friend and former law enforcement official, Brandon Pender. The U.S. has placed him on the FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives list. - Tiller Russell , Film Director, THE LAST NARC Series on AMAZON, Hector was an old-school, dedicated and fearless lawman. The more Kiki expressed ignorance, the worse the torture. But when Berrellez took over the investigation in 1989, what he uncovered was a tangled web of treachery and deceit. 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. Unbeknownst to him, the "good guys" were never good. 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. Walt From 'Narcos: Mexico' Is Based On Real DEA Agents - Bustle These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. 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. 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! ", "The CIA's Deadly Drug-Running Operation", "Former DEA Agent Sues Amazon Studios for Portrayal in 'The Last Narc' - Variety", "James Kuykendall v. Amazon Studios LLC et al", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Last_Narc_(TV_series)&oldid=1144200904, This page was last edited on 12 March 2023, at 11:07. CIA protectiveness of the DFS surfaced publicly in 1981, when the chief of the Mexican agency at that time, Miguel Nazar Haro, was indicted in San Diego on charges of involvement in a massive cross-border car-theft ring. In January of 1989, Hector was chosen to lead Operation Leyenda. This memoir is excellent!! Why AI Has Some Viewers Asking Which Film Actors Are Real. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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He was retired CIA. He was the perfect fit, but his investigation uncovered a horrendous CIA link, which forced Hector to reconsider how to progress with the case. And is credited for his handling and solving of the The series was released by Amazon in July 2020. Hector Berrellez is a former D.E.A. Hector was not close to a hero when he was a little boy as he grew up to become. As a victim, he was betrayed by the very people who tasked him with fighting the societal evils that seem overwhelming. 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. ", - Ed Heath, former Supervisor, DEA, Mexico, The truth about the 35 year-old murder of KIki Camarena had to be told. Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2022. Your own government killed Camarena. The details of what really happened to Kiki remain difficult to access even today, more than 30 years later. We've received your submission. As a hero, he dedicated his whole life trying to right the wrongs that he encountered. It is clear that the exact circumstances and details surrounding Kikis death have still not come to light, and after spending several years of his life, Hector hasnt managed to get to the bottom of it either. Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2022. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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. Kiki deserves justice. "According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (sic), 'SETCO Aviation is a corporation formed by American businessmen who are dealing with Matta and are smuggling narcotics into the United States.'". 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. One of those arrested was Rafael Caro-Quintero. In July 2020, Amazon released a docuseries, a real story called The Last Narcabout the death of Kiki Camarena at the age of 37. [7], The Daily Beast reviewed The Last Narc favorably, calling it a "a wide-ranging expose about the entangled relationship between the CIA, the Mexican government, the DFS (Mexicos secret police, created by the CIA) and the cartels. But it also reconstructs the Matta Ballesteros story to fit its narrative. Parents: NA At the time, Nazar Haro also was heavily involved in drug trafficking, witnesses in two U.S. trials have testified. 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. Thanks for reaching out. 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. The former DEA supervisor was born on September 27, 1946, in Tucson, Arizona in the United States of America but has his roots in Mexico. Hector Berrellez - Biography - IMDb 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. Narcos Mexico Kiki Camarena murder DEA agent Phil Jordan Hector - MEAWW There are good cops out there; Hector is one of them. Hector Berrellez Now: Where is the DEA Agent Today? Update The U.S. Justice Department is investigating explosive new allegations that a Central Intelligence Agency operative and Drug Enforcement Administration official played a role in the 1985 abduction, torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camarena, a report claims. I went through an array of emotions while reading it. The one in Luxembourg had $4 billion and the other one had even more.. I wasted my time and exposed myself to all that danger., The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images. Then a little further on whoever wrote this said his supervisor asked him why he shot the guy ten times. [5] Also interviewed are employees and enforcers of the cartels who helped capture and torture Camarena, but later became witnesses for the DEA. Its not the first time the American intelligence assets have been accused of having a role in Camarenas demise. .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip. Nevertheless, 23 sources were murdered over the course of the investigation. I feel like we were all betrayed, he told The Post, referring to himself and his informants. By the mid-1980s, Mexican and US media referred to him as the Guadalajara Cartel's boss. 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. Berrellez retired in 1996. The U.S. government, he explained, was unable to seize the accounts because of the banking secrecy laws in those countries. This memoir is excellent!! In January of 1989, Hector was chosen to lead Operation Leyenda. Finally, after two days, his body gave out and a thug put Kiki out of his misery, cracking him across the skull with a steel rebar. [5] He said that after he asked Jorge Godoy one interview question, Godoy drew a pistol. When he was relieved with honor, he looked at the path of enforcing the law. In April 1988, Honduran army officials along with US Marshals picked him up after his morning jog, then bundled him into an airplane and took him to the Dominican Republic. Enhanced typesetting improvements offer faster reading with less eye strain and beautiful page layouts, even at larger font sizes. They gave them to us," Berrellez told Fox News. One of them cost Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro-Quintero $2.5 billion. This story has been shared 152,008 times. 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. 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. "[8], David Hathaway, a DEA agent who worked in South America alongside Phil Jordan and Mike Holm, endorsed the series. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period. "A 1983 Customs Investigative Report states that 'SETCO stands for Services Ejecutivos Turistas Commander and is headed by Juan Ramon Mata (sic) Ballesteros, a class I DEA Violator,'" the Kerry report states. or redistributed. The highest decorated DEA agent in history, Hector Berrellez sits down to discuss what happened to kidnapped CIA agent Kiki Camarena. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Hectors the CEO, and the firm looks to be secretive enough not to have a prominent online presence. Children: NA He was 42 years old at the time and had worked in the DEA for more than 10 years. But suffice it to say that the U.S. government doesnt look good in any of the stories Hector tells. The Last Narc: A Memoir by the DEA's Most Notorious Agent "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. After he was captured and jailed in Colombia, Medellin Cartel operatives paid a bribe estimated to be in the millions to get him out. On a cinematic and literary journey that started with Narcos: Mexico (Netflix) and O Plata O Plomo (by James Kuykendall) this is by far the most interesting, easy to read and "are you kidding me?! Inducing. At times it had me shocked, sad, laughing at the dark humor, and in disbelief at the very real and honest revelations he puts forth about murder of Kiki Camarena (Semper Fi) and the involvement of the CIA not only in the War on Drugs (which we all know, Iran-Contra) but the murder itself. The statute that established the CIA forbids it from carrying out law enforcement activities. [9] Following the initiation of the discovery process, Kuykendall voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit.[12]. How Will Ovidio's Arrest in Mexico Affect Sinaloa Cartel and the Fentanyl Trade? His story also inspired the Netflix drama series Narcos: Mexico.. kidnap, torture and murder of undercover DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" He ended up finding out much more than he bargained for. Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2020. Rafael Caro Quintero escaped in a SETCO plane, piloted by a CIA Pilot. [5] According to Berrellez, Camarena was killed because he was going to disclose these connections. 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. Nor do they memorialize their interrogations: That is CIA methodology.. ", Renaissance Literary & Talent in conjunction with the proprietor (September 15, 2020). Plumlee, for instance, says the man he flew to Guatemala did not identify himself. An insight of the war on drugs from a perspective of those fighting it. 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. Who is Hector Berrellez Wife and Where is He Now? Hector Berrellez was the agent in charge of the investigation. [1][3], The Last Narc was produced by Eli Holzmann and Aaron Saidman. 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. Actually conducting the interrogation. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. As well as trafficking his goods, the airline moved shipments for the State Department and the CIA, according to a 1988 congressional report (pdf). Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Then the torture continued. We go into the field to interview, report and investigate. The U.S. has placed him on the FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives list. Hector Berrellez is a stone warrior, whose astonishing life story took him from the barrios of Tucson to the killing fields of Mexico and the halls of power in D.C. and into the heart of darkness of the most notorious murder in the history of the Drug War. enforcement. We don't have any information as to if/when "The Last Narc" will be available on Prime Video. The Justice Department, when asked by Fox News to respond to the allegations, declined to comment. The investigation remains open. 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. In 1985, the colonial city was the base for most of the major narcotics traffickers. On Feb. 7, 1985, an undercover DEA agent named Enrique Kiki Camerena was abducted in plain sight in Guadalajara, Mexico. Berrellez was 42 at the time. They were blasted out of their minds, doing cannonballs on his chest, anally penetrating him with a broomstick, putting out cigarettes on his skin.. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. 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. The series showed those involved in the murder such as: See Also:Barbara Baekeland- Shocking Story Of Incest, Adultery, Murder- Everything To Know. Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2022. [2], The docuseries shoots footage in the home where Camarena was tortured and murdered, now an elementary school. 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. Untold Truth About Jess Brolin, James Brolins Son And Barbra Streisands Stepson? We as a society can stop it if we join together, United. Mexico has arrested one of El Chapo's sons, Ovidio, at a bitter cost. Hector Berrellez is a former D.E.A. As a victim, he was betrayed by the very people who tasked him with fighting the societal evils that seem overwhelming. You had a bunch of drug lords sitting around, freebasing cocaine and torturing this guy, Tiller Russell, director of the new Amazon docuseries The Last Narc, told The Post. The undated file photo distributed by the Mexican government shows Rafael Caro-Quintero. 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. According to the most complete account of his life in Julie Marie Brunck and Michael Ross Fowler's "Bribes, Bullets, and Intimidation: Drug Trafficking and the Law in Central America," Matta Ballesteros worked his way from petty street thief in Tegucigalpa to contraband and drug trader.