A ledger from the report shows the State Department paid $185,924.25 to SETCO between January and August of 1986, a year after Camarena was killed and Matta Ballesteros was a known suspect in the case. [2], The docuseries shoots footage in the home where Camarena was tortured and murdered, now an elementary school. Camarena by drug traffickers in Guadalajara, Mexico in which Hector [2][3][4], In the telling of Camarena's wife and former DEA agents Phil Jordan and Mike Holm, Camarena cost the cartels billions of dollars when his investigations led the Mexican Army to burn down Rancho Bfalo, a major marijuana plantation. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Berrellez was a career DEA man by the time he was handed the case. The fact that he lived to tell the tale is nothing short of miraculous. " ", Renaissance Literary & Talent in conjunction with the proprietor (September 15, 2020). Having been stationed for anti-terrorist security measures in US embassies in Central and South America, Hector has seen quite a bit of the world. The undated file photo distributed by the Mexican government shows Rafael Caro-Quintero. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Meet Carmen Larbalestier And Anthony Hamilton, Maris Racal Has Forgiven Iigo Pascual - A Detailed Look At Her Love Life, Who Is Ernest Khalimov? Its good that Berrellez states early on that other people did some of the polishing and editing, because whoever did, know nothing about firearms. Good 1st person account. Digging amidst the web of lies in Mexico, Hector ended up finding much more than he hoped for. 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. Docs Reveal CIA-Guadalajara Link, Not Conspiracy, 13 NOV 2013 BY STEVEN DUDLEY AND MICHAEL LOHMULLER, WHICH ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS SINDICATOS. He is recognized as one of the most highest decorated Drug Enforcement Agent in the history of the bureau. 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. Now retired from the DEA, Berrellez sounds disillusioned about his investigation for the DEA. Buy this book. The series was released by Amazon in July 2020. On January 3, 1989, Special Agent Hector Berrellez was assigned to the case. Interest inthe case revived in August whenMexican authorities released Caro Quintero from jail12 years before the end of his sentence. Mums the word.. 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. I'm glad he was on our side. Also, Hector Berrellez has been dubbed an expert in terrorism, security protection, and threat assessment by the United States Government. [2] The docuseries interviews the DEA agent who spearheaded the investigation of Camarena's death. At first glance, they seemed like wild assertions: in October, the Mexican magazine Proceso and Fox News, based on interviews with two former agents and a former contractor, said the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had executed Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985, after Camarena discovered the agency's plan to finance the CIA's proxy army in Central America, the Contras, using illicit drug funds. Untold Truth About Jess Brolin, James Brolins Son And Barbra Streisands Stepson? Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download. Great read! However, the book is well written in the 1st person and whoever took on this part is skilled, that alone compelled me to stick with it. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, He was haunted by what he experienced as a DEA agent, but he never stopped fighting the good fight. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/07/05/cia-used-drug-ranch-in-training-report-says/e1de697c-9697-4f0c-a85a-fc5661f0afe7/, TRIAL IN CAMARENA CASE SHOWS DEA ANGER AT CIA. 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. Page Flip is a new way to explore your books without losing your place. Buy this book. The DFS agents then took Camarena, blindfolded and held at gunpoint, to one of Caro-Quintero's haciendas five miles away. Another witness warned Hector to stop digging. Basically, justice is just that, a word. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Each one of them pointed to the same man. We then verify, write and edit, providing the tools to generate real impact. Market data provided by Factset. 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? CONTRAS trained on Drug Lords Veracruz ranch. I wasted my time and exposed myself to all that danger., The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images. It conveys the impression that you are actually there. [1], The docuseries recounts the story of DEA Agent Kiki Camarena's investigation of Mexican cartel drug lords including Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo and Rafael Caro Quintero, his death at the hands of drug lords and the CIA, and the DEA relations that followed Camarena's death. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. The ideas, thoughts and opinions contained in this document are those of the author or authors. I was glued. 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. Social Media: Facebook. By the mid-1980s, Mexican and US media referred to him as the Guadalajara Cartel's boss. On Kindle Scribe, you can add sticky notes to take handwritten notes in supported book formats. received the prestigious DEA Administrator's Award. But suffice it to say that the U.S. government doesnt look good in any of the stories Hector tells. Hector holds a BA and BS from the University of Phoenix, Arizona, and a Doctorate in International Law from the University of Michoacan, Mexico. I feel like we were all betrayed, he told The Post, referring to himself and his informants. 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. Hector Berrellez is the DEA agent featured in 'The Last Narc'. Kiki deserves justice. Was the Mexican cartel . I couldnt set this book down. [2][3], The documentary's director, Tiller Russell, researched Camarena's murder for 14 years, and then shot and edited The Last Narc for two years. The agent, Hector Berrellez, states that the CIA agent Flix Ismael Rodrguezhelped torture Camerena to learn what Camarena knew about US connections to Mexican cartels. 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At the time, as a Supervisor and Special Agent, he gained immense knowledge of counter-terrorism and narcotics enforcement. 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. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period. 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. Rodriguez, according to the independent counsel Lawrence Walsh's report on the Iran Contra affair, did not become a clandestine coordinator for Contra aid until 1985, well after Matta Ballesteros had begun working with the Guadalajara Cartel. But he talked to guys who hand-delivered the drugs., The Last Narc chronicles Berrellezs investigation. His business and political connections attended parties at his lavish mansion and he gave handouts to the poor from his doorstep. Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2021. Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. However, when people went to start watching the first episode on release day, they were met with a message saying the title was currently unavailable. And is credited for his handling and solving of the Little by little, Hector Bellerez started to draw attention to himself when he led the arrest of several drug dealers. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. The world needs more people like you. He was 42 years old at the time and had worked in the DEA for more than 10 years. Eventually, prosecutors did obtain tapes of Camarena's torture and murder. Reading this book has put a lot into perspective for me. He was 42 years old at the time and had worked in the DEA for more than 10 years. [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 obviously, it doesnt look great when a docuseries claiming to reveal an ugly truth about the CIA suddenly becomes inaccessible. The one in Luxembourg had $4 billion and the other one had even more.. Also in the mix: corrupt Mexican politicians and, according to sources in the series, CIA agent Felix Rodriguez allegedly there to protect American interests in a tangled web of drugs, money and dirty politics. 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. 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. The investigation following Camarenas death resulted in numerous convictions of drug lords associated with the Guadalajara Cartel behind Camarenas death. Word Wise helps you read harder books by explaining the most challenging words in the book. Rodriguez has denied any involvement and claims that the allegations against him are the result of a Cuban intelligence disinformation campaign. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. He spoke Spanish, had done extensive undercover work, and had even spoken with Kiki over the phone on numerous occasions. Thank you Mr. Berrellez for having the courage to share your story and speaking your truth. Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2022. 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. Ex-DEA agent Phil Jordan once headed the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC); Hector Berrellez was a DEA supervisor on the case; and Tosh Plumlee was a former CIA contract pilot who worked with SETCO, a Honduran-based airline owned by Honduran drug trafficker Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros. All Rights Reserved. "Obviously, they were there. They were blasted out of their minds, doing cannonballs on his chest, anally penetrating him with a broomstick, putting out cigarettes on his skin.. 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. 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. Anyone wanting the real story about Kikis murder should read this. Amazon has made a four-part docuseries about Kikis death, Hectors investigation, and the truth of what happened on that February day. The 37-year-olds body was found dumped on a nearby ranch about a month later. 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. The whole case stinks, and if you don't step away you'll stink, too, Hector told LA Weekly. Drug lords dont blindfold; you know who they are, and you will not survive, he said. No regrets. We want to sustain Latin Americas largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources. 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. 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. The Last Narc was supposed to be his chance to reveal everything. Very interesting read! Its not the first time the American intelligence assets have been accused of having a role in Camarenas demise. "[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. 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). It is clear that hes led an exciting life. In fact, a little digging shows Hector as an applicant for the APA membership, as per the 2011 APA Magazine (The magazine for the polygraph professional). Our work is costly and high risk. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. According to previous accounts, Camerena was tortured and murdered by the cartel as revenge for uncovering a massive marijuana operation. 4 stars because there are some small issues, like inconsistencies of the text with itself, typos and other. It also opened the eyes of many authors and reporters to state that Bellerez may have more informants than the CIA. 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. Thirty-five years ago, it was not the same. The DEA and Camarena had been utilizing a series of wiretaps to make sizeable drug busts inside Mexico. So, conspiracy theories aside, the record shows an indirect connection between the CIA and the Guadalajara Cartel via Matta Ballesteros and possibly a more direct connection via the Mexican police. 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.
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