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. "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.'". The level of corruption he discovers in both Mexico and the US is shocking. Eventually, prosecutors did obtain tapes of Camarena's torture and murder. The whole case stinks, and if you don't step away you'll stink, too, Hector told LA Weekly. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "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. 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. This story is 100% true and shocking in everything it states about the death of Kiki, and US justice. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Spouse: NA As a government employee and a veteran myself. 'The Last Narc' suggests CIA helped kidnap, murder DEA agent For 30 days, American agents kicked down doors, said Russell. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. As a result of the confrontation, 19 {Mexican police} agents were killed. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Drug lords dont blindfold; you know who they are, and you will not survive, he said. 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. According to Charles Bowden and Molly Molloy's three-part story in the Medium publication Matter, Berrellez . He was 42 years old at the time and had worked in the DEA for more than 10 years. 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. At the time, there was little the world knew about him until he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Prized recruit. 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. 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. At the time, as a Supervisor and Special Agent, he gained immense knowledge of counter-terrorism and narcotics enforcement. The money is used for black operations even Congress and the president are unaware of. Enjoy a great reading experience when you borrow the Kindle edition of this book with your Kindle Unlimited membership. The series was released by Amazon in July 2020. 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. 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. 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. To my knowledge they were never confiscated, Berrellez said. Hector Berrellez is a former D.E.A. On January 3, 1989, Special Agent Hector Berrellez was assigned to the case. Documentary alleges US involvement in 1985 death of DEA agent 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. He is recognized as one of the most highest decorated Drug DEA Agent Hector Berrellez Interview (Valuetainment Clips) Podcastn Out 52.5K subscribers Subscribe 4.9K views 2 years ago #Narcos #HectorBerrellez #KikiCamarena The highest decorated DEA. A moving and deeply personal account of one DEA agents heroic efforts to bring the murderers of Kiki camarena to justice. 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. Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, the DEA agent murdered in Mexico in 1985. Its not the first time the American intelligence assets have been accused of having a role in Camarenas demise. [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. His name was Felix Rodrguez. As you might expect, the conspiracy theories surrounding The Last Narcs suspicious unavailability quickly began swirling online. This memoir is excellent!! The person writing spoke of the first time he killed a man, shooting him twice in the stomach with a Good 1st person account. In July 2020, Amazon released a docuseries, a real story called The Last Narcabout the death of Kiki Camarena at the age of 37. I went through an array of emotions while reading it. 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. Page Flip is a new way to explore your books without losing your place. All rights reserved. Kiki ended up a sacrificial lamb led to the slaughter, said Russell. [5] According to Berrellez, Camarena was killed because he was going to disclose these connections. 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. 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? All rights reserved. The U.S. has placed him on the FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives list. In the earliest years of his career, Bellerez served as a homicide cop. [1][3], The Last Narc was produced by Eli Holzmann and Aaron Saidman. The Last Narc was supposed to be his chance to reveal everything. 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. We are sorry. Docs Reveal CIA-Guadalajara Link, Not Conspiracy - InSight Crime He has also been working with Brandon Pender, his long term friend, and business associate. The investigation following Camarenas death resulted in numerous convictions of drug lords associated with the Guadalajara Cartel behind Camarenas death. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The DEA and Camarena had been utilizing a series of wiretaps to make sizeable drug busts inside Mexico. Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The Last Narc is a docuseries about the 1985 death of U.S. DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. He realized evil exists at the highest level of government. Unlimited reading. The highest decorated DEA agent in history, Hector Berrellez sits down to discuss what happened to kidnapped CIA agent Kiki Camarena. 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! the U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese for heroism. [5] According to Berrellez, Camarena was killed because he was going to disclose these connections. They pressured Amazon to take it off because of national security. Supervisor and Special Agent, with thirty years extensive experience in counter terrorism and narcotics enforcement. DEA agent Hector Berrellez in The Last Narc. Watch the series. received the prestigious DEA Administrator's Award. 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. Thank you Mr. Berrellez for having the courage to Definitely worth purchasing. Rodriguez has denied any involvement and claims that the allegations against him are the result of a Cuban intelligence disinformation campaign. But, as Berrellez says in the documentary, a supposedly very high-up CIA official told him all this stuff about the CIA bringing in drugs and the CIA being complicit in Kikis murder that you allege and to keep quiet about it. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold. 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. Was the Mexican cartel . "Obviously, they were there. Marital Status: NA Your story resonates with me. 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). ", "The CIA's Deadly Drug-Running Operation", "Former DEA Agent Sues Amazon Studios for Portrayal in 'The Last Narc' - Variety", "James Kuykendall v. Amazon Studios LLC et al", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Last_Narc_(TV_series)&oldid=1144200904, This page was last edited on 12 March 2023, at 11:07. I can go on and on with this. How Will Ovidio's Arrest in Mexico Affect Sinaloa Cartel and the Fentanyl Trade? But it also reconstructs the Matta Ballesteros story to fit its narrative. This story is 100% true and shocking in everything it states about the death of Kiki, and US justice. Untold Truth About Jess Brolin, James Brolins Son And Barbra Streisands Stepson? This memoir is excellent!! When he wrote he shot him twice in the stomach. 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. Why AI Has Some Viewers Asking Which Film Actors Are Real. But then, he had to keep them away from each other as well as grant them witness protection. 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. 7 Shocking Facts About GigaChad, Chantal Cadieux: 10 Unknown Facts About Jean-Marc Valle's Ex-wife. Kiki deserves justice. The AK 47 uses 30 round magazines. Berrellez was a career DEA man by the time he was handed the case. On Feb. 7, 1985, an undercover DEA agent named Enrique Kiki Camerena was abducted in plain sight in Guadalajara, Mexico. It also opened the eyes of many authors and reporters to state that Bellerez may have more informants than the CIA. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. This page is not available in other languages. Your own government killed Camarena. The details of what really happened to Kiki remain difficult to access even today, more than 30 years later. Basically, justice is just that, a word. In 1985, after the Camarena murder, the government disbanded it in an effort to root out corruption and repair Mexico's image. Children: NA The one in Luxembourg had $4 billion and the other one had even more.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In January of 1989, Hector was chosen to lead Operation Leyenda. 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 Hector Berrellez Now: Where is the DEA Agent Today? Update 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. Its good that Berrellez states early on that other people did some of the polishing and editing, because whoever did, know nothing about firearms. 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. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! 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. Basically, justice is just that, a word. Now retired from the DEA, Berrellez sounds disillusioned about his investigation for the DEA. He interviewed more than 100 insiders, often moving them to the United States for protection. Shortly thereafter he became the key bridge between the Guadalajara Cartel and the Medellin Cartel.He bought large tracts of land and set up companies in Honduras, among them SETCO. To be sure, Matta Ballesteros was in Mexico since at least the early 1970s. Further along the writer said he was an OCS graduate, while concurrently a combat medic. Then, the person writing for Berrellez states later on he went through two 60 round clips firing an AK 47. US probing claims that CIA operative, DEA official betrayal led to 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. Stunning first-person details abound in The Last Narc, provided by colorful characters led by Berrelleza no-nonsense . In January of 1989, Hector was chosen to lead Operation Leyenda. Hector and Brandons agency can also be contacted for executive protection. He spoke Spanish, had done extensive undercover work, and had even spoken with Kiki over the phone on numerous occasions. We go into the field to interview, report and investigate. Please support our mission investigating organized crime. 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. [5] The CIA has denied any involvement in Camarena's death. 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 series showed those involved in the murder such as: See Also:Barbara Baekeland- Shocking Story Of Incest, Adultery, Murder- Everything To Know. They broke his ribs, drilled a hole in his head and tortured him with a cattle prod. The U.S. government, he explained, was unable to seize the accounts because of the banking secrecy laws in those countries. As a government employee and a veteran myself. 'Narcos: Mexico': Is Real-Life Drug Lord Flix Gallardo Alive Today? 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. The former DEA supervisor was born on September 27, 1946, in Tucson, Arizona in the United States of America but has his roots in Mexico. Reading this book has put a lot into perspective for me. 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. I feel like we were all betrayed, he told The Post, referring to himself and his informants. Very interesting read! 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. This may sound dramatic but if you pay attention to the nuances of Berrellez writing one may understand why. On February 7, 1985, DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camerena was abducted. One outlet reports that Hector revealed to them the series had been canceled by the CIA. How Accurate Is The Narcos Series? DEA Agent Hector Berrellez - YouTube 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. In 1985, the colonial city was the base for most of the major narcotics traffickers. It is clear that hes led an exciting life. 4 stars because there are some small issues, like inconsistencies of the text with itself, typos and other. He survived gunfights, assassination attempts and a deep state conspiracy. Legal Statement. In 2013, Hector came forward, saying that he finally believed hed pieced together Kikis murder more completely. At this point, nothing would surprise me.. The undated file photo distributed by the Mexican government shows Rafael Caro-Quintero. (CIA agent Rodriguez has denied being in Mexico at the time.). As well as trafficking his goods, the airline moved shipments for the State Department and the CIA, according to a 1988 congressional report (pdf). Date of birth: September 27, 1946 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 Berrellez book reveals that the DEA is staffed with hundreds of CIA operatives including operatives that hold senior management positions. US intelligence present during DEA agent's torture .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. ^LS. Hector Berrellez in 'The Last Narc' (Amazon Studios) Mexico's second-largest metropolis, Guadalajara, is known for its sunny weather, tequila and mariachi music. 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. It hasnt yet killed me, but it has debilitated me, seeping up and into my roots, poisoning me but keeping me alive. They were blasted out of their minds, doing cannonballs on his chest, anally penetrating him with a broomstick, putting out cigarettes on his skin.. He knew they were bringing in tons of cocaine, but he did not know that the CIA was involved, said Berrellez. Is The Last Narc canceled? His story has also been told through documentation that includes film. 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. But as his team dug deeper into their investigation, they started to uncover more and more disturbing information. Market data provided by Factset. Matta Ballesteros was eventually sentenced to multiple life sentences in a US prison where he remains to this day. 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. Then a little further on whoever wrote this said his supervisor asked him why he shot the guy ten times. 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. I couldnt set this book down. .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip. But suffice it to say that the U.S. government doesnt look good in any of the stories Hector tells. Many of the bodies showed signs of torture; the bodies had been drawn and quartered.". ", At some point between 1981 and 1984, Harrison said, "members of the Mexican Federal Judicial Police arrived at the ranch while on a separate narcotics investigation and were confronted by the guerrillas. 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. An insight of the war on drugs from a perspective of those fighting it. 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. We don't have any information as to if/when "The Last Narc" will be available on Prime Video. 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. Hector Berrellez - Biography - IMDb Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2022. Did the CIA Torture an Undercover DEA Agent for a Mexican Drug Cartel? Also, Hector Berrellez has been dubbed an expert in terrorism, security protection, and threat assessment by the United States Government. 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. [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. 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. Unknown Details And Net Worth Of Lewis Hamiltons Brother, Who Are Lewis Hamiltons Parents? The statute that established the CIA forbids it from carrying out law enforcement activities. There are good cops out there; Hector is one of them. Actually conducting the interrogation. 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. 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. Kiki was asked questions he could not answer. [2], The docuseries shoots footage in the home where Camarena was tortured and murdered, now an elementary school. EXCLUSIVE | 'The Last Narc' has been canceled? DEA agent Hector The mystery was how they got away with it. Actually taping Kiki, Phil Jordan, former director of the DEA's El Paso Intelligence Center, told Fox News in 2013. The Last Narc (TV series) - Wikipedia Citizenship: Mexican Enhanced typesetting improvements offer faster reading with less eye strain and beautiful page layouts, even at larger font sizes. The court overturned this decision in early November,and authorities are searching for Caro Quintero anew. Bar Association Medal of Valor, the Federal Executive Board Chairman's 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. Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2022. 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. Hector is a hero, and a victim. Rafael Caro Quintero escaped in a SETCO plane, piloted by a CIA Pilot. But obviously, it doesnt look great when a docuseries claiming to reveal an ugly truth about the CIA suddenly becomes inaccessible. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. 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. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. 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. It is a high-level international investigation and executive security firm which specializes in investigating things related to business, the government, or the environment. He was haunted by what he experienced as a DEA agent, but he never stopped fighting the good fight. 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. He would be reportedly tortured for about 30 hours and brutally killed in Mexico. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. By the mid-1980s, Mexican and US media referred to him as the Guadalajara Cartel's boss. Supervisor and Special Agent, with 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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. (AP). Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2020, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2021, The last narc amazing insight into the D.E.A in mexico, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 28, 2021, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. He is recognized as one of the most highest decorated Drug Enforcement Agent in the history of the bureau. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. For more than 30 hours, Caro-Quintero and others interrogated Camarena and crushed his skull, jaw, nose and cheekbones with a tire iron. Also watch the last narc on prime, both are really good. Please keep an eye on our site, as you'll be able to see all available options there! Hectors the CEO, and the firm looks to be secretive enough not to have a prominent online presence.

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