Hector Berrellez is one of the most decorated United States Drug Enforcement Agents of all time The 76 years old has a career as a book/screenwriter, technical advisor, and executive producer He helped in bringing to light the case of the murdered DEA agent Enrique Camarena and the alleged involvement of the CIA Little by little, Hector Bellerez started to draw attention to himself when he led the arrest of several drug dealers. On November 9, the magazine offered still more details, via an interview with Plumlee, of the alleged connections between the US spy agency and the Guadalajara Cartel's Rafael Caro Quintero, the convicted intellectual author of the Camarena murder. A moving and deeply personal account of one DEA agents heroic efforts to bring the murderers of Kiki camarena to justice. This may sound dramatic but if you pay attention to the nuances of Berrellez writing one may understand why. [5] During interviews with Camarena's wife, she states that she believes neither the US nor Mexican governments told her the whole truth about her husband's death. I was glued. 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. 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. Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, the DEA agent murdered in Mexico in 1985. 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. The brutal murder forced the DEA to launch Operation Leyenda, and Hector Berrellez was put in charge of the investigation. Please support our mission investigating organized crime. 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. No regrets. Documentary alleges US involvement in 1985 death of DEA agent Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Kiki was asked questions he could not answer. He investigated a fellow agents murder and uncovered more than he bargained for. 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. SOURCE: [Page: H2955] INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1999 (House of Representatives - May 07, 1998) A Tangled Web: A History of CIA Complicity in Drug International Trafficking. "Obviously, they were there. Cartel partner Rafael Caro Quintero in custody in 2005. There he was convicted to 40 years in prison. In the series, Berrellez claims his efforts were shut down by his DEA bosses after he pieced together details about the CIAs cocaine and gun operation. All Rights Reserved. However, this is inconsistent with what's known about Felix Rodriguez's and Matta Ballesteros' histories. [5][3] Russell has kept his location a secret, fearing for his safety. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Drawing heavily from news accounts, they say in 1970 he was arrested in Dulles Airport with 25 kilos of cocaine. He is recognized as one of the most highest decorated Drug Enforcement Agent in the history of the bureau. There was a problem loading your book clubs. 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 Last Narc: A Memoir by the DEA's Most Notorious Agent Please try again. Why AI Has Some Viewers Asking Which Film Actors Are Real. 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. Great read! Interest inthe case revived in August whenMexican authorities released Caro Quintero from jail12 years before the end of his sentence. .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. Inducing. He stumbled into something bigger than he was.. 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. Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox. The case definitely opened new pages in the progression of time with different facts coming up. The more Kiki expressed ignorance, the worse the torture. Amazon has encountered an error. But many former DFS agents remain active, especially in the Mexico City police department. The cartel had his body dug up by a crew of guys, including El Chapo, who specialized in such work and left Kiki where he could be found.. The details were sketchy -- reports of a CIA asset recording the torture session came via Mexican informants, for instance -- but the sources were strong. We want to sustain Latin Americas largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources. The investigation remains open. Mexico has arrested one of El Chapo's sons, Ovidio, at a bitter cost. 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. Hector is a hero, and a victim. According to the lawsuit who names the defendants as star and former DEA supervisor and special agent Hector Berrellez, assistant producer John Massaria, executive producer Tiller Russel, Good Pixel Productions and the Intellectual Property Corporation the Show masquerades as a factual documentary, but in reality, it aims to capitalize on Camarenas tragic murder by scandalizing it for profit and for entertainment value.. He is recognized as one of the most highest decorated Drug Walt From 'Narcos: Mexico' Is Based On Real DEA Agents - Bustle ", - Ed Heath, former Supervisor, DEA, Mexico, The truth about the 35 year-old murder of KIki Camarena had to be told. Please use a different way to share. I went through an array of emotions while reading it. Watch the series. As a result of the confrontation, 19 {Mexican police} agents were killed. At the time, there was little the world knew about him until he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Prized recruit. [5] The CIA has denied any involvement in Camarena's death. Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. On February 7, 1985, DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camerena was abducted. 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. 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. 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. We need to make justice., Convicted drug lord, killer freed from prison, MEXICAN OFFICIAL IN 2016: CARO-QUINTERO GETTING BACK INTO DRUG TRADE. Kiki deserves justice. Its called The Last Narc, and its supposed to be available to start streaming on May 15, 2020. There is, however, little documentation to back up the claims of CIA involvement and the statements of the sources are not all rock solid. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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Date of birth: September 27, 1946 However, the cartel leader would later be released before the FBI would list him as a wanted man with a $20 million reward for his capture. In 1985, after the Camarena murder, the government disbanded it in an effort to root out corruption and repair Mexico's image. Was the Mexican cartel . He was taken off the case, assigned to a desk job in DC and told not to reach out to any of his sources. For 30 days, American agents kicked down doors, said Russell. It is well known that the CIA has been involved in drug trafficking for decades. This may sound dramatic but if you pay attention to the nuances of Berrellez writing one Berrellez begins his book I am a man who is haunted by the past. Then the torture continued. 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. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. 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. [3][6], The series features interviews with real persons involved in Camarena's life and death. There are good cops out there; Hector is one of them. 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. This story has been shared 163,002 times. [5] According to Berrellez, Camarena was killed because he was going to disclose these connections. It hasnt yet killed me, but it has debilitated me, seeping up and into my roots, poisoning me but keeping me alive. [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? 4 stars because there are some small issues, like inconsistencies of the text with itself, typos and other. Drug lords dont blindfold; you know who they are, and you will not survive, he said. At the time, as a Supervisor and Special Agent, he gained immense knowledge of counter-terrorism and narcotics enforcement. He has similarities to DEA agent Hector Berrellez, a real member of Operation Leyenda. 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? When he was relieved with honor, he looked at the path of enforcing the law. I can go on and on with this. As a victim, he was betrayed by the very people who tasked him with fighting the societal evils that seem overwhelming. Word Wise helps you read harder books by explaining the most challenging words in the book. Reading this book has put a lot into perspective for me. (AP), LARA LOGAN CONFRONTS ALLEGED MEXICAN CARTEL DOCTOR ACCUSED OF TORTURING DEA AGENT. How a Dogged L.A. DEA Agent Unraveled the CIA's Alleged Role in the On how he was able to bring a number of the alleged culprits, Bellerez had a budget of about $3 million with a team of 20 agents. He spoke Spanish, had done extensive undercover work, and had even spoken with Kiki over the phone on numerous occasions. Social Media: Facebook. Then a little further on whoever wrote this said his supervisor asked him why he shot the guy ten times. Hector Berrellez was the agent in charge of the investigation. The U.S. government, he explained, was unable to seize the accounts because of the banking secrecy laws in those countries. The one in Luxembourg had $4 billion and the other one had even more.. 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. Unlimited reading. In January of 1989, Hector was chosen to lead Operation Leyenda. 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. Your story resonates with me. No regrets. In January of 1989, Hector was chosen to lead Operation Leyenda. This would lead to his becoming a highly decorated American Drug Enforcement Agent who served as a DEA Supervisor and Special Agent for 30 years until his retirement in 1996. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! 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. 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. "[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. Nor do they memorialize their interrogations: That is CIA methodology.. The series showed those involved in the murder such as: See Also:Barbara Baekeland- Shocking Story Of Incest, Adultery, Murder- Everything To Know. His networks reached to the top of the Honduran military, who helped him kidnap and kill his former partners-turned-rivals, Mary and Mario Ferrari, in 1977. 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. The report -- which came from the so-called Kerry Committee Report, named for then Senator and now Secretary of State John Kerry who led the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's inquiry into US support for the Contras -- adds that other US agencies knew of SETCO's role in trafficking drugs. Heres all you need to know about his latest whereabouts. 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. The Berrellez book reveals that the DEA is staffed with hundreds of CIA operatives including operatives that hold senior management positions. EXCLUSIVE | 'The Last Narc' has been canceled? DEA agent Hector 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. As part of this far-fetched narrative, the Show falsely and despicably accuses Plaintiff Kuykendall of complicity in the murder of his close friend and fellow agent, the lawsuit read. I wasted my time and exposed myself to all that danger., The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images. 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. His body wasnt found for nearly a month. 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. The CIA considers itself above the law which combined with its intelligence expertise and drug money is a major threat to our democracy. The person writing spoke of the first time he killed a man, shooting him twice in the stomach with a Good 1st person account. Special Award. 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. It hasnt yet killed me, but it has debilitated me, seeping up and into my roots, poisoning me but keeping me alive. Actually taping Kiki, Phil Jordan, former director of the DEA's El Paso Intelligence Center, told Fox News in 2013. Meet Hector Berrellez: The Former DEA Agent in Amazon's 'The Last Narc' Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. 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. It is insidious and widespread. As you might expect, the conspiracy theories surrounding The Last Narcs suspicious unavailability quickly began swirling online. The world needs more people like you. I couldnt set this book down. Now retired from the DEA, Berrellez sounds disillusioned about his investigation for the DEA. Please try again. One outlet reports that Hector revealed to them the series had been canceled by the CIA. or redistributed. Hector and Brandons agency can also be contacted for executive protection. 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. Mums the word.. 7 Shocking Facts About GigaChad, Chantal Cadieux: 10 Unknown Facts About Jean-Marc Valle's Ex-wife. 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 four-part series, released in July, tells the true story of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, a special agent with the DEA, who was kidnapped, tortured and murdered in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1985.. Did the CIA Torture an Undercover DEA Agent for a Mexican Drug Cartel? At this point, nothing would surprise me.. Who is Hector Berrellez Wife and Where is He Now? Hector Berrellez in 'The Last Narc' (Amazon Studios) Mexico's second-largest metropolis, Guadalajara, is known for its sunny weather, tequila and mariachi music. His story has also been told through documentation that includes film. Also, Hector Berrellez has been dubbed an expert in terrorism, security protection, and threat assessment by the United States Government. Those last two factors set off alarm bells for Berrellez, now 74. Hector holds a BA and BS from the University of Phoenix, Arizona, and a Doctorate in International Law from the University of Michoacan, Mexico. [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. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period. Citizenship: Mexican At the offset, he stated that he did not believe in conspiracy theories and went on to paint a picture where Kiki was investigating CIA contract pilots around the time of his death. On Kindle Scribe, you can add sticky notes to take handwritten notes in supported book formats. His name was Felix Rodrguez. This page is not available in other languages. Thank you Mr. Berrellez for having the courage to share your story and speaking your truth. 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. His father was a bricklayer while his mother was involved in fortune-telling. [5] He said that after he asked Jorge Godoy one interview question, Godoy drew a pistol. 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. Testimony in Camarena murder blocked by judge Rafeedie, Witness Says Drug Lord Told of Contra Arms, ByHENRY WEINSTEINJULY 7, 1990 12 AMTIMES STAFF WRITER. This story is 100% true and shocking in everything it states about the death of Kiki, and US justice. 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.
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