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. Is The Last Narc canceled? 10 Facts To Know About Dr. Michelle Oakleys Daughter. Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2022. It is well known that the CIA has been involved in drug trafficking for decades. On Kindle Scribe, you can add sticky notes to take handwritten notes in supported book formats. Spouse: NA [9] Following the initiation of the discovery process, Kuykendall voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit.[12]. He spoke Spanish, had done extensive undercover work, and had even spoken with Kiki over the phone on numerous occasions. In 1985, after the Camarena murder, the government disbanded it in an effort to root out corruption and repair Mexico's image. 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,. But it also reconstructs the Matta Ballesteros story to fit its narrative. He was 42 years old at the time and had worked in the DEA for more than 10 years. 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. [2] The docuseries interviews the DEA agent who spearheaded the investigation of Camarena's death. He interviewed more than 100 insiders, often moving them to the United States for protection. He is now on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list with a reward of up to $20 million for information leading to his capture. Distractify is a registered trademark. At this point, nothing would surprise me.. Also watch the last narc on prime, both are really good. or redistributed. Each one of them pointed to the same man. 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. Nevertheless, 23 sources were murdered over the course of the investigation. 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. Stunning first-person details abound in The Last Narc, provided by colorful characters led by Berrelleza no-nonsense . Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download. 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. Buy this book. 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. enlightening take on the futility of the war on drugs, Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2022. (AP), LARA LOGAN CONFRONTS ALLEGED MEXICAN CARTEL DOCTOR ACCUSED OF TORTURING DEA AGENT. This page is not available in other languages. Knowing that there is a lot in his cart, he decided to explore other careers in writing and production known for The Last Narc: A Memoir by the DEAs Notorious Agent (2021) and The Devils Garden (2016), Personal Profile 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. In 1974, he was arrested for drug possession there. But then, he had to keep them away from each other as well as grant them witness protection. I want the truth to be out, Mika Camarena, Enriques widow, told the outlet. ", "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? Meet Hector Berrellez: The Former DEA Agent in Amazon's 'The Last Narc' In 2013, Hector came forward, saying that he finally believed hed pieced together Kikis murder more completely. His killers were allegedly Mexican cartels and CIA agents. They broke his ribs, drilled a hole in his head and tortured him with a cattle prod. As a government employee and a veteran myself. 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. We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, The Last Narc: A Memoir by the DEA's Most Notorious Agent. 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. The money is used for black operations even Congress and the president are unaware of. thirty years extensive experience in counter terrorism and narcotics 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. In separate interviews with the El Paso Times, Jordan and Berrellez said they went public because they only recently confirmed allegations of the CIA involvement in the Camarena murder. 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. Hector remained with the DEA until 1996. Kiki ended up a sacrificial lamb led to the slaughter, said Russell. Amazing insight on not only the investigation, but also to the man conducting it! 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. Hector was given $3 million per year and a team of 20 agents to uncover what really happened to Kiki. Informants told Berrellez that Kiki was stripped to his jockey shorts, blindfolded and subjected to torture-filled interrogations that were captured on audiotape. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. An insight of the war on drugs from a perspective of those fighting it. 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. He said the accounts were listed under the alien name that Caro Quintero, a major drug trafficker and fugitive from U.S. justice, used to do business with Mexican banks. 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. Another witness warned Hector to stop digging. [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. 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. The person writing spoke of the first time he killed a man, shooting him twice in the stomach with a Good 1st person account. Reading this book has put a lot into perspective for me. He investigated a fellow agents murder and uncovered more than he bargained for. On February 7, 1985, DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camerena was abducted. There are good cops out there; Hector is one of them. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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"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. But when Berrellez took over the investigation in 1989, what he uncovered was a tangled web of treachery and deceit. Now retired from the DEA, Berrellez sounds disillusioned about his investigation for the DEA. 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. 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. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. The undated file photo distributed by the Mexican government shows Rafael Caro-Quintero. Besides this, the former DEA agent has also taken to writing. He was the perfect fit, but his investigation uncovered a horrendous CIA link, which forced Hector to reconsider how to progress with the case. Great read! "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. Parents: NA By the mid-1980s, Mexican and US media referred to him as the Guadalajara Cartel's boss. At the time, as a Supervisor and Special Agent, he gained immense knowledge of counter-terrorism and narcotics enforcement. Testimony in Camarena murder blocked by judge Rafeedie, Witness Says Drug Lord Told of Contra Arms, ByHENRY WEINSTEINJULY 7, 1990 12 AMTIMES STAFF WRITER. Kikis death launched Operation Leyenda, the largest DEA homicide investigation ever. Hector was not close to a hero when he was a little boy as he grew up to become. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Did the CIA Torture an Undercover DEA Agent for a Mexican Drug Cartel? .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip. [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. 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. 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. Please use a different way to share. 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.. Enjoy a great reading experience when you borrow the Kindle edition of this book with your Kindle Unlimited membership. 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? It also opened the eyes of many authors and reporters to state that Bellerez may have more informants than the CIA. Hector and Brandons agency can also be contacted for executive protection. 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. The investigation following Camarenas death resulted in numerous convictions of drug lords associated with the Guadalajara Cartel behind Camarenas death. He survived gunfights, assassination attempts and a deep state conspiracy. Rafael Caro Quintero escaped in a SETCO plane, piloted by a CIA Pilot. 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.. 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. 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. Legal Statement. 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. Thank you Mr. Berrellez for having the courage to share your story and speaking your truth. 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 stumbled into something bigger than he was.. Your story resonates with me. Then a little further on whoever wrote this said his supervisor asked him why he shot the guy ten times. 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. Hectors the CEO, and the firm looks to be secretive enough not to have a prominent online presence. 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. The Last Narc: A Memoir by the DEA's Most Notorious Agent The series alleges a corruption so deep that Mexicos then-president, Miguel de la Madrid, received kilos of cocaine as gifts from traffickers. No regrets. All About Drew Sidoras Husband And Cheating Claims, Who Is Willow Oakley? Watch the series. 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. We are sorry. DEA Agent Hector Berrellez On Getting Revenge For Kiki Camarena Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. DEA agent Hector Berrellez in The Last Narc. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The Justice Department reportedly started re-examining the case in 2019, two years after a federal court tossed convictions against two suspects. For more than 30 hours, Caro-Quintero and others interrogated Camarena and crushed his skull, jaw, nose and cheekbones with a tire iron. It hasnt yet killed me, but it has debilitated me, seeping up and into my roots, poisoning me but keeping me alive. 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. [11] Amazon briefly removed the series from view, but later restored it. (AP). The FBI office at the U.S. Embassy here cabled strong protests, calling Nazar Haro an "essential contact for CIA station Mexico City.". 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. In the Amazon docuseries, Berrellez gave an account of how the government may be aware of what happened to Camarena in Mexico. The more Kiki expressed ignorance, the worse the torture. Berrellez retired in 1996. According to Charles Bowden and Molly Molloy's three-part story in the Medium publication Matter, Berrellez . 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?! In January of 1989, Hector was chosen to lead Operation Leyenda. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2022. One of those arrested was Rafael Caro-Quintero. When he passed out, a cartel-connected physician injected his heart with reviving pharmaceuticals. 30 Best Fuck You Songs For Very Difficult Moments. [2], The docuseries shoots footage in the home where Camarena was tortured and murdered, now an elementary school. He was recognized by the U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese for heroism. [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. CIA took it off, Hector reportedly said. In the earliest years of his career, Bellerez served as a homicide cop. He was haunted by what he experienced as a DEA agent, but he never stopped fighting the good fight. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. We as a society can stop it if we join together, United. Nicknamed The DEAs Elliot Ness, Hector Berrellez became a man who was bent on creating a society with less crime, especially as related to drugs and terrorism. They were blasted out of their minds, doing cannonballs on his chest, anally penetrating him with a broomstick, putting out cigarettes on his skin.. While all the emphasis is on Caro Quintero's and possibly the CIA's starring roles in Camarena's death, the real protagonist of this part of the story is the Honduran drug trafficker Matta Ballesteros and his company SETCO -- the only formally established links between the Guadalajara Cartel and the CIA. Bar Association Medal of Valor, the Federal Executive Board Chairman's 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. When he wrote he shot him twice in the stomach. In the series, Berrellez claims his efforts were shut down by his DEA bosses after he pieced together details about the CIA's cocaine and gun operation. Hector Berrellez is the DEA agent featured in 'The Last Narc'. [5][3] Russell has kept his location a secret, fearing for his safety. US probing claims that CIA operative, DEA official betrayal led to In a statement to Fox News, the CIA vehemently denied the story, and previous investigations into Iran-Contra and CIA dealings in the region have not included the Guadalajara Cartel. Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, the DEA agent murdered in Mexico in 1985. His name was Felix Rodrguez. 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. 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. 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. Amazon has made a four-part docuseries about Kikis death, Hectors investigation, and the truth of what happened on that February day. Your own government killed Camarena. The details of what really happened to Kiki remain difficult to access even today, more than 30 years later. "Director of Amazon's 'The Last Narc' had a gun pulled on him during filming", "Did the CIA Torture an Undercover DEA Agent for a Mexican Drug Cartel? Date of birth: September 27, 1946 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. Enforcement Agent in the history of the bureau. 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. I was glued. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Digging amidst the web of lies in Mexico, Hector ended up finding much more than he hoped for. One outlet reports that Hector revealed to them the series had been canceled by the CIA. We then verify, write and edit, providing the tools to generate real impact. Meet Carmen Larbalestier And Anthony Hamilton, Maris Racal Has Forgiven Iigo Pascual - A Detailed Look At Her Love Life, Who Is Ernest Khalimov? He was haunted by what he Hector is a hero, and a victim. ^LS. The fact that he lived to tell the tale is nothing short of miraculous. " 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. The killing was a result of Camerenas investigation that led to the Mexican Army destroying a marijuana plantation worth billions and he was also close to exposing that the CIA was working with the cartels. The one in Luxembourg had $4 billion and the other one had even more.. The research presented in this article is, in part, the result of a project funded by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The money is used for black operations even Congress and the president are unaware of. The Last Narc was supposed to be available to stream starting on Friday, May 15. 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. 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. As a victim, he was betrayed by the very people who tasked him with fighting the societal evils that seem overwhelming. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. When he was relieved with honor, he looked at the path of enforcing the law. [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. Former DEA Agent Sues Amazon Studios for Portrayal in 'The - Variety View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. / holy$$$$!" [2] Camarena earned further enemies by discovering that the CIA was working with the cartels to fund anti-communist Contras in Nicaragua. Full name: Hector Berrellez 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. Meet Sosie Bacon: The Newest Cast Member on Narcos: Mexico', 'How to Fix a Drug Scandal's Kris Foster Might Still Be in Legal Trouble. His business and political connections attended parties at his lavish mansion and he gave handouts to the poor from his doorstep. Actually taping Kiki, Phil Jordan, former director of the DEA's El Paso Intelligence Center, told Fox News in 2013. I hope you continue to write. 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. Its good that Berrellez states early on that other people did some of the polishing and editing, because whoever did, know nothing about firearms. This memoir is excellent!! [5] They also claimed the DEA official accepted cartel money. He is famous for books such as The Last Narc: A Memoir by the DEAs Notorious Agent (2021), 2023 JukeBugs - A Property of GlassWorks Media. 'Narcos: Mexico': Is Real-Life Drug Lord Flix Gallardo Alive Today? He was taken off the case, assigned to a desk job in DC and told not to reach out to any of his sources. [5] He said that after he asked Jorge Godoy one interview question, Godoy drew a pistol.
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