agent Enrique (Kiki) Camarena walked out of his office in Guadalajara, Mexico, and headed for a lunch date with his wife. He was a Marine. The Last Narc, which focuses on the 1985 murder of U.S. DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, wrongly alleges a government conspiracy that includes decorated federal agent, Jaime Kuykendall . The money goes toward scholarships. He attended high school in Calexico (a portmanteau of California and Mexico) where he met high school sweetheart and future wife, Geneva 'Mika' Camarena. Investigators soon identified Miguel ngel Flix Gallardo and his two close associates,Ernesto Fonseca CarrilloandRafael Caro Quintero, as the primary suspects in the kidnapping. eventAction: 'click_adunit' Do not sell or share my personal information. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), When the War on Drugs set off in 1971, the U.S. government was leading the charge in trying to prohibit the sale, use, and transfer of illegal narcotics in the states. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, after his death, she formed the Enrique S. Camarena Foundation in 2004 with the help of retired DEA agents and her oldest son, Enrique, a deputy district attorney working in the South Bay. Among the countless acts of indiscriminate and at times very personal , repulsive murders the case of Kiki Camarena struck a chord deep in my soul and I felt physically sick when I researched and learnt more about his abduction, torture and eventual death. In 1981, the same year Reagan started his first term as president, the DEA sent their special agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena to Guadalajara, Mexico. On February 7, 1985, the cartel struck, seizing Camarena as he left the office to meet Mika for lunch. I wanted to find out what made the guy tick, and I did a lot of research and thank God I spoke with Mika (Camarenas wife), he told Newsweek. Camarenas torture and murder prompted a swift reaction from the U.S.Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) and launched Operation Leyenda, the largest DEA homicide investigation ever undertaken. Berrellez, the former DEA agent who ran the task force investigating his murder, has said for years that the CIA was involved. Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story about the arrest of Dr. Humberto lvarez-Machan in Los Angeles for the murder and kidnapping of DEA agent Enrique S. "Kiki" Camarena Salazar. At this point, nothing would surprise me. Also found was the body of his pilot, Zavala Avelar. On Thursday, February 7, 1985, at 2:00 pm, Special Agent Enrique Camarena left the American Consulate in Guadalajara to meet his wife, Mika, for lunch. Published: 00:22 EST, 28 February 2020 | Updated: 09:08 EST, 28 February 2020. He was likely injected with drugs to ensure he remained conscious throughout the ordeal. This video is for entertainment purposes only. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Trump and US face logistical nightmare if he follows through with threats, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. What she was able to tell me was that he was a guy that just wanted to do good. They were mostly guys in their early 30s who had joined the DEA with the patriotic aim of winning the war on drugs. Those claims were wrong, not supported by forensic science. In the first episodes of Narcos: Mexico, Kiki Camarena (played by Michael Pena) and Felix Gallardo (played by Diego Luna) are juxtaposed as twin protagonists: One trying to solidify the drug trade and the other trying to stop it in an era when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was still an underappreciated agency headquartered over a strip club. The Death of Kiki Camarena, a Martyr of the International Drug War. By 1985, which is when Narcos: Mexico roughly starts, he was extremely close to unlocking a multi-billion dollar drug pipeline, the DEA says. Outside the house, Kiki and Calderoni nearly had a physical altercation over the inefficieny of the Mexican policing . "Actually conducting the interrogation. Mexican drug trafficker Caro Quintero, accused killer of Kiki Camarena They blindfolded him and, between questions, beat and burned him. Meanwhile, alleged henchmen Rene Verdugo and Juan Matta-Ballesteros were also jailed for their involvement, before a judge disputed forensic evidence and threw out their convictions in 2017. },false) Indirectly, they (the CIA) have got to take some of the blame. He alleged the CIA protected the DFS for decades, and stated, The DFS just got out of hand., Kiki Camarena Death: The Real Story of the DEA Agents Murder, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), In the early afternoon hours of February 7, 1985, Camarena was leaving his post based in the U.S. Consulate office in Guadalajara to meet with his wife. Kiki Camarena was born Enrique (Kiki) S. Camarena on July 26, 1947, in Mexicali, Mexico. It would be the last time Camarena was seen alive. Malone could not be reached forcomment. Sara Cosio | Historica Wiki | Fandom Kiki Camarena: Harrowing story of real DEA agent's torture and murder After graduation, Kiki Camarena served in the United States Marine Corps for three years, attaining the rank of Lance Corporal. Camarena opens the show in a scene that shows hes been abducted. Anyone who believes that possession of just a small quantity of illegal drugs is a crime without a victim will realize how much death and torture was involved in the process of bringing it to the marketplace. The capture and murder of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena was a brazen moment in the drug war By Will Grant BBC News, Guadalajara Twenty seven years ago, the kidnap, torture and murder of a US Drug. Merely days before he was set to be transferred to San Diego, Kiki Camarena was kidnapped while on his way to lunch with his wife. He was so keen on Felix knowing his name that he even confronted him in a street. Kiki and Fredy were tortured for information for a period of over 30 hours, resulting in their deaths. The Red Ribbon Campaign was created to honor Camarena and to raise awareness about the dangers and effects of using drugs. As he lay dying, a cartel doctor was ordered to keep him alert by administering drugs.. But who was Kiki Camarena and how did he enter the Guadalajara drug scene? Enrique S. "Kiki" Camarena Salazar (July 26, 1947 - February 9, 1985) was a Mexican-born American undercover agent for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who was abducted on February 7, 1985, and then tortured and murdered, while on assignment in Mexico. pg.acq.push(function() { The murder of a Mexican journalist. As part of their ongoing Drug Awareness program, theBenevolent and Protective Order of Elksawards an annual Enrique Camarena Award at local, state and national levels to a member of law enforcement who carries out anti-drugs work. The Netflix series details the background of the case and how this horrendous crime unfolded. He was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, and received his B.A. There is too many ghosts behind me. Enrique Camarena Salazar | Narcos Wiki | Fandom CIA Ordered Execution of DEA's "Kiki" Camarena (Latin Press) Three of the witnesses former Mexican police officers Ramon Lira, Rene Lopez and George Godoy, who had worked as security guards for cartel kingpins spoke with USA TODAY and recounted that they told investigators a DEA official and a CIA operative were present at meetings where Camarenas abduction was discussed. Enrique Camarena Salaza lahir di . The case eventually reached theU.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that lvarez was not entitled to relief. Camarena was blindfolded before being led inside the grounds of that home, Lopez added, and once inside was greeted by Rafael Caro Quintero, one of Mexico's most notorious drug traffickers.. But on his way from the building to his vehicle, he was abducted by armed men who shoved him into a car. Officials questionedthe men intheir offices in Riverside, California. The Torture and Execution of Kiki Camarena O Plata O Plomo? "Silver or Lead?" - "The Abduction of DEA Agent Kiki U.S. authorities offered a $20 million reward for his capture. Watch The Last Narc Season 1 | Prime Video - amazon.com DEA agent whose brutal death featured in Narcos was BETRAYED by CIA agent, according to key witnesses in 1985 case. fifty skinheads appeared from nowhere, many of them wearing Chelsea and Rangers football scarves and covered in Loyalist and swastika tattoos. Gallardo was sentenced to 37 years in 2017 for the death of Camarena by a Mexican court (as well as the murder of Alfredo Zavala, a Mexican pilot), according to The Times. (I.R.A) History &Background, Kiki Camarena The Brutal Torture & Death of aNarc, Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, The Loyalist Mod Death of a fella Mod and a Catholic Friend, True story behind Netflixs Narcos: Mexico. He has advanced freedom and free markets on talk-radio stations all across the country as well as on Fox News Neil Cavuto and Greta van Susteren shows and he appeared as a regular commentator on Judge Andrew Napolitanos show Freedom Watch. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of By then, federal agents had launched a manhunt like few others in U.S. history. Roberto Savianos non-fiction bookZero Zero Zero(2015) deals in part with Camarenas undercover work and his eventual fate. He discovered why there were people who deemed it necessary to kidnap and torture Camarena rather than simply kill him. LewRockwell.com and from ga('ads.send', { hitType: 'event', And thats what Ive been doing up until yesterday. The government gave him and the two other former Mexican police officers immunity in exchange for information. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Actor Michael Pena, who played Kiki in Narcos, researched the role of Kiki Camarena for Narcos: Mexico in part by speaking with the agents widow. ga('ads.send', { In the spin-off seriesNarcos: Mexico, Camarena is played by American actorMichael Pea. Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar would never be seen alive again. Click here to order :https://tinyurl.com/2p9b958v. Michael Malone, a longtime FBI agent and prolific expert witness, testified that hair samples taken from two suspects on trial in Camarenas murder Rene Verdugo and Juan Matta-Ballesteros matched hair recovered from the guest house where Camarena was tortured;therefore, it was compelling evidence putting both men at the scene of the crime. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 7, 1985, D.E.A. Operation Leyenda | Historica Wiki | Fandom The Netflix series details the background of the case and how this horrendous crime unfolded. Authorities arrested and questioned Ezequiel Godinez-Cervantes, who was among the men indicted in Camarenas murder in 1987, but prosecutors dropped the charges after he was convicted of drug trafficking in Texas. DEA agent whose brutal death featured in Narcos may have been BETRAYED In the process, youll see why the drug war is so utterly corrupt and why there are people who have a vested interest in seeing that it continues. 'Narcos: Mexico': How similar is the real-life torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena to the story. eventAction: 'view' True story behind Netflix's Narcos: Mexico - mirror Samuel Ramirez held him at gunpoint and told him not to resist and they took him to a large house at 881, Lope De Vega, where Kiki was blindfolded and tortured practically into a coma. He was a trial attorney for twelve years in Texas. Ernesto Don Neto Fonseca and Rafael Caro Quintero were other cartel leaders involved. Lawyers for both said they were not permitted to discuss the details. He was the kind of guy who just wanted to keep the streets safe. Until his capture last week, the 69-year-old Caro Quintero was the Drug Enforcement Administration's most wanted man, accused of killing DEA agent Kiki Camarena in 1985 and then resuming a drug . Two former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and a former U.S. Central Intelligence Agency contract pilot are claiming that the Reagan Administration was complicit in the 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena at the hands of Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero. Michael Pea plays DEA Agent Enrique Kiki Camarena in Season 1 of Narcos: Mexico. Before Camarenas death, DEA units in Mexico destroyedmillions of dollars worth of marijuana grown on farms for the Guadalajara Cartel, named for the city in Jalisco, a state in western Mexico. View these interviews at Kiki Camarena convicted 1985 DEA death deported in El Paso to Mexico pg.acq.push(function() { 1. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ukrainian soldier takes out five tanks with Javelin missiles, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Moment teenager crashes into back of lorry after 100mph police race. [, Mexican police had destroyed evidence on Camarenas body. Kiki Camarena is murdered. According to Heath's report on the autopsy, cadaver number one, as the Red Cross doctors labeled it, was that of a muscular Hispanic male in his thirties, with black hair and dark brown eyes. However, he would make a fatal mistake, and season 2 deals with the aftermath of it: The murder of Camarena, and how the DEA responded to it. They asked 'Kiki' Camarena "what he knew about the relationship between Kiki Camarena Torture Tapes Transcripts : r/NarcoFootage - reddit Geneva "Mika" Camarena was looking forward to lunch at a upmarket restaurant with her husband Enrique or "Kiki". An undated file photo of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, the DEA agent murdered in Mexico in 1985. These psychos were obviously baying for blood Mod blood, to beexact. Throughout season one, we don't know who, exactly, is relating the story of doomed DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. Documentary alleges US involvement in 1985 death of DEA agent In real life, Camarenas wife was indeed named Mika, and she is the mother of his three children. }); They told her they were investigating the claim, but she said they did not provide details. }); Former DEA Agent James Kuykendall Disputes His Characterization in Some told startling stories, alleging that U.S. officials had secretly been involved with a cartel that was delivering huge quantities of marijuana and cocaine to the USA, according to people familiar with the case who were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly. See : The Loyalist Mod Death of a fella Mod and a Catholic Friend, See: True story behind Netflixs Narcos: Mexico. Mexico captures notorious drug lord Caro Quintero wanted in kidnapping }); A special unit was dispatched to coordinate the investigation in Mexico, where government officials were implicatedincluding Manuel Ibarra Herrera, past director of Mexican Federal Judicial Police, andMiguel Aldana Ibarra, the former director of Interpol in Mexico. After serving in the Marine Corps for two years, Kiki was a Calexico fireman, Calexico police officer, and an Imperial County Deputy Sheriff. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ The abduction and murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena(2005), by retired DEA Resident Agent in Charge James H. An internal Justice Department investigation in 1997 found he had testified falsely before Congress. Kiki received two Sustained Superior Performance Awards, a Special Achievement Award and, posthumously, the Administrators Award of Honor, the highest award granted by DEA, the DEA says. The show, in both seasons 1 and 2, traces the growth of the drug trade, moving the series setting from Colombia to Guadalajara, Mexico. Why not this?, Contributing: Arlene Martinez, The Ventura County (Calif.) Star, and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY, The murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena in 1985 is being further investigated. In its spin-off, 'Narcos: Mexico' goes on to show the Guadalajara cartel's ascent as Miguel ngel Flix Gallardo (Diego Luna), Rafael Caro Quintero (Tenoch Huerta Mejia), and Don Neto, aka Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo (Joaqun Cosio), join hands. First in an exclusive Tico Times series in two parts. Camarena's widow and the mother of his three sons, Mika, told the publication: 'I want the truth to be out. Narcos: 10 Most Brutal Kills, Ranked - ScreenRant But on his way from the building to his vehicle, he was abducted by armed men who shoved him into a car. She is pregnant throughout part of the show and living with him in Mexico with their family while his job increases in danger. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Kiki was surrounded by five armed men who threw him into a car and sped away. In 1987, Mr. Hornberger left the practice of law to become director of programs at the Foundation for Economic Education. He was a police officer, and then he became part of the DEA. So, why would drug dealers go after and kill Camarena, a fairly low-level drug agent? Kiki Camarena, The Cali Cartel, And The Drug War In Mexico "I remember the children coming home. In 1985, Camarena was kidnapped, brutally tortured, and then executed. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. I want the truth to be out. [, Zuno had known ties to corrupt Mexican officials, and Mexican officials were implicated in covering up the murder. The shows depiction of his kidnap and torture was nowhere near as brutal as the real event and it is right that Kiki should be remembered as a hero who give his life in what I sometime feel is the pointless War on Drugs. } }); Coincidentally the Netflix Narcos: Mexico series has been screening and watching it I was able to align the story line/s with the brutal real life characters I have been reading about and those involved in Kikis savage murder. What's the real story of the death of Kiki Camarena? We are helping law enforcement get the word out about drugs to our youth, parents and schools., Kiki Camarenas son, Enrique Camarena is now a judge in California after serving as a deputy district attorney for years. On the other hand, Kiki's death starts a new revolution in the DEA: a homicide investigation called Operation Leyenda (which translates to Operation Legend). The Tragic Death Of DEA Agent Kiki Camarena - Grunge.com He is. Case Study Analysis: The Enrique Camarena Case - Free Paper Sample 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.[. Kiki moved with his wife and young son from California to Mexico. 'The Last Narc' details Kiki Camarena's torture: How DEA agent was The highly publicized abduction and murder in 1985 was one of the darkest moments in U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration history and provided the plot for the Netflix series "Narcos: Mexico." Camarena received many awards and is considered an American hero. In fact, better yet, first watch Seasons 1 and 2 of Narcos: Mexico on Netflix. Criminal cases seldom improve with age as both memories and evidence fade, and the investigation of Camarenas murder has produced reams of conflicting evidence that would make any new prosecution especially challenging. After his military service, he moved back to his hometown of Calexico, California to work as a fireman and then became a police officer in the Calexico Police Department. Gallardo, known as 'The Godfather', remains behind bars for his role in the murder. Cartel boss who murdered DEA agent Kiki Camarena captured in Mexico The tape was also used in the federal trial against the three Mexican cartel bosses who ordered his kidnapping. Here's a quick comparison between the reel and the real pictures. Known to his friends as "Kiki," Special Agent Camarena had been in Mexico for more than four years on the trail of Mexican marijuana and cocaine drug traffickers. Kiki Camarena - Wikipedia I had to tell them that he had been. He is telling the story of his father,DEA agent Enrique Camarena and story of #RedRibbonWeek #inspiringyoungminds Thanks for your fathers and your service to our communities .#msasdonaroll pic.twitter.com/2rAEDOOVgM, Principal Serce (@mr_serce) October 23, 2018, He told NBC San Diego of his dad, You know, I think about him every day. After getting the information, the criminals murdered Agent Camarena and buried him. You can read about him here. Statistical breakdown of deaths in the Troubles of Northern Ireland 1969 2001, Irish National Liberation Army ( I.N.L.A), Irish Republican Army. Alas, we've come to the unforgettable tragedy of season 1 of Narcos: Mexico. Today, Fonseca is on house arrest, and Caro Quintera was released from prison in 2013 on a legal technicality and is being sought by the U.S. Camarenas death changed the face of Mexican drug cartels. And Im going to be serving my county, serving this community in a different way., Kiki Camarena spent three years in Calexico for the DEA before he was assigned to the agencys Fresno office and then to Mexico, where he worked out of its office in Guadalajara. Narcos Mexico Season 1 Finale Recap: Everything to Remember In the aftermath of Camarena's death the DEA then launched their biggest homicide manhunt,Operation Leyenda ("Legend")(per DEA Museum and Visitors Center). Years later, another Justice Department review found he had repeatedly created scientifically unsupportable lab reports and provided false, misleading, or inaccurate testimony at criminal trials.. Anyone can figure out that that sort of thing is just going to get the U.S. government even more determined to come after you. Would love your thoughts, please comment. James Kuykendall was there, and when it comes to the reality of the drug business this is the real thing! Camarena is the subject of the bookO Plata o Plomo? He said he was asked not to discuss the case, but were in a free country.". Ruben Zuno Arce, a Mexican citizen convicted for his role in the 1985 torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena died in a U.S. federal prison in Florida. He was . Enrique "Kiki" Camarena was kidnapped and murdered in 1985, leading to a major escalation in the war on drugs. . NARCOS: MEXICO Official Trailer "Agent Kiki Camarena" (HD) Michael Pena Series, SUBSCRIBE for more TV Trailers HERE: goo.gl/TL21HZ He gave his life for his work. It was in 1975 that he first joined the DEA and in 1981, he was assigned the Guadalajara office. Camarena was on their heels for five years until in 1985, drug traffickers tired of being hunted and kidnapped him as he was leaving his job at the US consulate. . The Reagan administration would immediately expand the war on drugs, and the U.S. would later see a major increase in arrests and incarceration for drug use as he pushed for wide-scale crackdowns, per Britannica. Harris said Godinez-Cervantes denied any involvement, though the attorney said authorities did not appear entirely satisfied with his answers. Given the lapse of time, Harris said he didn't expect new charges. Narcos: Mexico : Here's what's true about Kiki Camarena eventAction: 'click_ads' Play it now! Two associates,Ernesto 'Don Neto' Fonseca and Rafael Caro Quintero, were also convicted. Thats the way that Camarena comes across in all three of these series. },false) 25 Horrifyingly Brutal And Drawn-Out Deaths That Actually Happened } This individual was the one charged with silencing the anti-narcotics agent for one serious reason: he had discovered that Washington was . - Camarena can be heard screaming on the tape as he was brutally tortured. This is the story of Camarena, the drug cartel he infiltrated, and the narc who . The three men's testimonies have been described as 'incredible' by a lawyer working for the recently releasedVerdugo. Prosecutors dropped the case before a judge could rule on the request. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He was also found guilty of killing Alfredo Zavala Avelar, a Mexican pilot who was employed by the DEA By Adry . On February 7, 1985; DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena and his pilot Fredy Zavala were kidnapped by agents of the Direccin Federal de Seguridad, allegedly on behalf of Rafael Caro Quintero, one of the leaders of the Guadalajara Cartel. "Shortly after Kiki's death, Congressman Duncan Hunter and high school friend Henry Lozano launched Camarena Clubs in Kiki's hometown of Calexico, California. Jailed drug lord insists he didn't murder DEA agent In 2004, the Calexico Police Department erected a memorial dedicated to Camarena. Under pressure from the U.S. government, Mexican PresidentMiguel de la Madridquickly apprehended Fonseca and Caro but Flix Gallardo still enjoyed political protection.