dea agent hector berrellez
[3][6], The series features interviews with real persons involved in Camarena's life and death. 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. "Obviously, they were there. enforcement. There was a problem loading your book clubs. All rights reserved. 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. No regrets. The Central Intelligence Agency trained Guatemalan guerrillas in the early 1980s at a ranch near Veracruz, Mexico, owned by drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, one of the murderers of U.S. drug agent Enrique Camarena, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration report made public in Los Angeles. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Meet Carmen Larbalestier And Anthony Hamilton, Maris Racal Has Forgiven Iigo Pascual - A Detailed Look At Her Love Life, Who Is Ernest Khalimov? 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. Besides this, the former DEA agent has also taken to writing. Marital Status: NA Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2022. Reading this book has put a lot into perspective for me. The CIA considers itself above the law which combined with its intelligence expertise and drug money is a major threat to our democracy. This memoir is excellent!! Age: 76 years old Then a little further on whoever wrote this said his supervisor asked him why he shot the guy ten times. Each one of them pointed to the same man. [11] Amazon briefly removed the series from view, but later restored it. [5][3] Russell has kept his location a secret, fearing for his safety. 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. He ended up finding out much more than he bargained for. 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. It's been canceled forever and it's a cover-up and they don't want the truth to come out., Hi there. 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 official trailer was also removed from the Amazon Prime Video page. 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! I was glued. / holy$$$$!" 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. The US government continues to hold Hector in the highest regard, due to his expertise in threat assessment, security protection, and terrorism. He received the Federal He would be reportedly tortured for about 30 hours and brutally killed in Mexico. This may sound dramatic but if you pay attention to the nuances of Berrellez writing one may understand why. Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2022. This story is 100% true and shocking in everything it states about the death of Kiki, and US justice. "[8], David Hathaway, a DEA agent who worked in South America alongside Phil Jordan and Mike Holm, endorsed the series. By the early 1980s, the DFS also had gained a reputation as practically a full-time partner of the Mexican drug lords. Barbara Baekeland- Shocking Story Of Incest, Adultery, Murder- Everything To Know, Lewis Hamiltons Siblings: Meet His Brother And Two Sisters, Who Is Nicolas Hamilton? Hector made it his mission to expose what he discovered and how Kiki was and continues to be betrayed by those he trusted. Berrellez retired in 1996. 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. The former DEA agent received training as a combat and field medic at the time of the Vietnam war that lasted from 1955 to 1975. We go into the field to interview, report and investigate. Den Held discussed gang dynamics in Medelln, Colombia, and approaches used by, Our extensive coverage of criminal activity in the border areas between Venezuela and Colombia has been referenced in areportby the Colombia-Venezuela RADAR project of the Konrad. ", "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? He has similarities to DEA agent Hector Berrellez, a real member of Operation Leyenda. The boom is a very good reading. He was recognized by the U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese for heroism. There is too many ghosts behind me, Godoy told USA Today. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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. Kikis death launched Operation Leyenda, the largest DEA homicide investigation ever. Kuykendall asserts that the show bolsters its false narratives by relying on unreliable, discredited and unnamed sources. For a lawman, Berrellez has a colorful literary style, Arms like railroad ties shot out of his white tee, and a sense of humor to go with it probably more appreciated by lawmen or military. "The CIA was the source. He was recognized by It is clear that hes led an exciting life. Citizenship: Mexican Berrellez was a career DEA man by the time he was handed the case. The more Kiki expressed ignorance, the worse the torture. 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. Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, the DEA agent murdered in Mexico in 1985. 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 moving and deeply personal account of one DEA agents heroic efforts to bring the murderers of Kiki camarena to justice. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? This story has been shared 396,071 times. Eventually, prosecutors did obtain tapes of Camarena's torture and murder. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period. Reading this book has put a lot into perspective for me. I was glued. Its not the first time the American intelligence assets have been accused of having a role in Camarenas demise. However, what the decorated agent has been able to do, is make a good life for himself, where he can follow his passion and practice his crafts in a private capacity. 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. 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. Specifically, it says a CIA asset named Felix Rodriguez -- who famously claims to have presided over the capture and murder of Ernesto "Che" Guevara in Bolivia in 1967 -- brought Matta Ballesteros to Mexico and introduced him to the Guadalajara Cartel for the express purpose of moving cocaine to the United States to fund the Contras. [5] The CIA has denied any involvement in Camarena's death. As former law enforcement officers, the two of them run SPI Group Inc. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold. "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.'". His name was Felix Rodrguez. He was 42 years old at the time and had worked in the DEA for more than 10 years. He was a natural fit for the investigation. Caro-Quintero was convicted in the kidnapping and murder but was mistakenly released from a Mexican prison in 2013. 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. All About Drew Sidoras Husband And Cheating Claims, Who Is Willow Oakley? He maintains that the CIA functioned. [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. 10 Facts To Know About Dr. Michelle Oakleys Daughter. But obviously, it doesnt look great when a docuseries claiming to reveal an ugly truth about the CIA suddenly becomes inaccessible. It is well known that the CIA has been involved in drug trafficking for decades. 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. Mums the word.. It counts among other with the testimonies of former DEA Hctor Berellez that led the investigation of Camarena's murder in operation Leyenda; Phil Jordan, former DEA Intelligence Director; Mike Holm, DEA resident agent in charge in Guadalajara when Camarena got kidnapped; and Manny Medrano, former assistant US Attorney and Lead Prosecutor in Camarena case. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Berrellez begins his book I am a man who is haunted by the past. However, the assertion that the CIA presided over the murder of a DEA agent seems -- with the documents that are publicly available now at least --more conspiracy theory than reality. Were not saying it looks like a total cover-up, but were not not saying that either. 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?! The brutal murder forced the DEA to launch Operation Leyenda, and Hector Berrellez was put in charge of the investigation. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Amazon has encountered an error. 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? He stumbled into something bigger than he was.. All Rights Reserved. CONTRAS trained on Drug Lords Veracruz ranch. Hector Berrellez is the DEA agent featured in 'The Last Narc'. The renewed focus into the grisly killing of Camarena who is featured in the Netflix series Narcos: Mexico is based on recent statements witnesses provided to U.S. agents and prosecutors, according to USA Today. CONTRAS trained on Drug Lords Veracruz ranch. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Great read! ", Renaissance Literary & Talent in conjunction with the proprietor (September 15, 2020). The Justice Department, when asked by Fox News to respond to the allegations, declined to comment. Hector holds a BA and BS from the University of Phoenix, Arizona, and a Doctorate in International Law from the University of Michoacan, Mexico. Actually conducting the interrogation. The 37-year-olds body was found dumped on a nearby ranch about a month later. By the mid-1980s, Mexican and US media referred to him as the Guadalajara Cartel's boss. 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. 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. When he was relieved with honor, he looked at the path of enforcing the law. It is a high-level international investigation and executive security firm which specializes in investigating things related to business, the government, or the environment. Parents: NA [5] Also interviewed are employees and enforcers of the cartels who helped capture and torture Camarena, but later became witnesses for the DEA. No regrets. US intelligence present during DEA agent's torture - Tiller Russell , Film Director, THE LAST NARC Series on AMAZON, Hector was an old-school, dedicated and fearless lawman. 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. The Last Narc is a docuseries about the 1985 death of U.S. DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. The level of corruption he discovers in both Mexico and the US is shocking. In 2013, Hector came forward, saying that he finally believed hed pieced together Kikis murder more completely. It is insidious and widespread. Kiki deserves justice. Thank you Mr. Berrellez for having the courage to share your story and speaking your truth. Distractify is a registered trademark. NOTORIOUS MEXICAN DRUG LORD ADDED TO FBIS MOST WANTED FUGITIVES LIST. 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. Kiki ended up a sacrificial lamb led to the slaughter, said Russell. He was 42 years old at the time and had worked in the DEA for more than 10 years. He was haunted by what he Hector is a hero, and a victim. The money is used for black operations even Congress and the president are unaware of. We as a society can stop it if we join together, United. There he was convicted to 40 years in prison. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. In July 2020, Amazon released a docuseries, a real story called The Last Narcabout the death of Kiki Camarena at the age of 37. Enhanced typesetting improvements offer faster reading with less eye strain and beautiful page layouts, even at larger font sizes. There is, however, little documentation to back up the claims of CIA involvement and the statements of the sources are not all rock solid. According to previous accounts, Camerena was tortured and murdered by the cartel as revenge for uncovering a massive marijuana operation. Hector managed to find three men who had witnessed Kikis torture and murder. Nor do they memorialize their interrogations: That is CIA methodology.. He was retired CIA. The investigation remains open. 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. 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. Very interesting read! ", 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 suffice it to say that the U.S. government doesnt look good in any of the stories Hector tells. On Feb. 7, 1985, an undercover DEA agent named Enrique Kiki Camerena was abducted in plain sight in Guadalajara, Mexico. Full name: Hector Berrellez 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. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2020. Fox News William La Jeunesse and Lee Ross contributed to this report. Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2022. 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.. Last Updated on April 28, 2022 by Stephanie, Biography and Early Life of Hector Berrellez, Tracing His Career From The Time He Was a Homicide Cop, Hector Reportedly Had Better Sources Than CIA and Led One of the Largest Investigations in DEA History, His Involvement in The Camarenas Murder Has Been Recorded in a Documentary, The Last Narc. .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration. Amazon has made a four-part docuseries about Kikis death, Hectors investigation, and the truth of what happened on that February day. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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The Last Narc was supposed to be available to stream starting on Friday, May 15. Thanks for reaching out. The undated file photo distributed by the Mexican government shows Rafael Caro-Quintero. The statute that established the CIA forbids it from carrying out law enforcement activities. 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. But there was one proof, it ended up becoming one of the biggest investigations in the history of DEA. At this point, nothing would surprise me.. He realized evil exists at the highest level of government. [5] After he was captured and jailed in Colombia, Medellin Cartel operatives paid a bribe estimated to be in the millions to get him out. But then, he had to keep them away from each other as well as grant them witness protection. 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. Drawing heavily from news accounts, they say in 1970 he was arrested in Dulles Airport with 25 kilos of cocaine. They allegedly held him in a house filled with spectators and depraved participants, including Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, then a foot soldier in the syndicate. Hector and Brandons agency can also be contacted for executive protection. He is recognized as one of the most highest decorated Drug Enforcement Agent in the history of the bureau. Little by little, Hector Bellerez started to draw attention to himself when he led the arrest of several drug dealers. They gave them to us," Berrellez told Fox News. [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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. According to Charles Bowden and Molly Molloy's three-part story in the Medium publication Matter, Berrellez . His story has also been told through documentation that includes film. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The mystery was how they got away with it. 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. His killers were allegedly Mexican cartels and CIA agents. "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. Hector Berrellez is a former D.E.A. The lawsuit states that the series hinges on a lurid conspiracy narrative that purports Central Intelligence Agency agents and other U.S. officials secretly conspired with the cartel to traffic drugs into the United States so that the proceeds could be used to fund the Contras then fighting the Communist regime in Nicaragua. Hector was stunned when he heard that, Russell said of DEA special agent Hector Berrellez, who would later try to learn exactly what happened to Kiki. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, In separate interviews with the El Paso Times, Mexican authorities released Caro Quintero from jail, The court overturned this decision in early November, Bribes, Bullets, and Intimidation: Drug Trafficking and the Law in Central America, the independent counsel Lawrence Walsh's report, eventually sentenced to multiple life sentences, International Development Research Centre, Colombia's New Security Policy Faces Challenges on Environmental Aims, Colombias Coca Market Crash Unlikely to Impact Cocaine Trade, InSight Crime Cited in OAS, CARICOM Reports, Cocaine and Marijuana Fuel Ever-Higher Homicides in Costa Rica, Corruption Takes Center Stage in Paraguay Presidential Election, In Lara, Venezuela, Criminal 'Colectivos' Control Public Services. Was the Mexican cartel . I can go on and on with this. His body wasnt found for nearly a month. 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. The ideas, thoughts and opinions contained in this document are those of the author or authors. They were blasted out of their minds, doing cannonballs on his chest, anally penetrating him with a broomstick, putting out cigarettes on his skin.. Definitely worth purchasing. 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. They pressured Amazon to take it off because of national security. .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. Legal Statement. 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. 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. Good 1st person account. The more you After I watched Amazon's prime video regarding Hector's story, I bought the book. [2] The docuseries interviews the DEA agent who spearheaded the investigation of Camarena's death. And is credited for his handling and solving of the The AK 47 uses 30 round magazines. Interest inthe case revived in August whenMexican authorities released Caro Quintero from jail12 years before the end of his sentence. The Justice Department reportedly started re-examining the case in 2019, two years after a federal court tossed convictions against two suspects. How Will Ovidio's Arrest in Mexico Affect Sinaloa Cartel and the Fentanyl Trade? enlightening take on the futility of the war on drugs, Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2022. Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2021. We need to make justice., Convicted drug lord, killer freed from prison, MEXICAN OFFICIAL IN 2016: CARO-QUINTERO GETTING BACK INTO DRUG TRADE. Hector Berrellez was the agent in charge of the investigation. Discussion of the Netflix original series "Narcos" & "Narcos Mexico", https://www.forbes.com/sites/doliaestevez/2013/12/05/mexican-fugitive-kingpin-caro-quintero-stashed-billions-in-secret-overseas-accounts-former-dea-agent-claims, https://np.reddit.com/r/narcos/comments/gio6om/forbes_rafael_caro_quintero_the_first_billionaire/, U.S. Treasury Tracks Secret Bank Accounts of Top Mexican Kingpin, When Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero ordered the kidnapping, torture and assassination of DEA agent Enrique Camarena in 1985, he was the leader of a billion dollar criminal empire, according to a former DEA agent. I want the truth to be out, Mika Camarena, Enriques widow, told the outlet. [5] He said that after he asked Jorge Godoy one interview question, Godoy drew a pistol. Bar Association Medal of Valor, the Federal Executive Board Chairman's 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. 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.