In an interview with Frontline, Calderoni gave a play-by-play of the high-stakes arrest, which went far less dramatically in . He was a trial attorney for twelve years in Texas. Camarena's widow and the mother of his three sons, Mika, told USA Today that she . A very short video segment released by the navy showed Caro Quintero his face blurred dressed in jeans, a soaking wet blue shirt and baggy khaki jacket held by both arms by men wearing camfoulage uniforms and carrying assault rifles. 1985 - Camarena's Death. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. His initial trial was the longest in Mexican history, lasting more than 28 years until his conviction in 2017 for the murders of Camarena and Mexican pilot Alfredo Zavala Avelar. Stop adding to the list! Mika Camarena is an American activist and the wife of late Mexican-born American undercover agent for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Enrique S. 'Kiki' Camarena Salazar, who was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by drug cartels in early 1985 while on assignment in Mexico. Camarena said, You know, I think about him every day. Kiki's kids are all grown up. Miguel ngel Flix Gallardo: Im not going to talk about because they've treated us poorly. Violence is a consequence of unemployment, of social inequality, which Mr. Lpez Obrador is solving little by little. There doesn't exist a czar, there's never existed such thing. She graduated from Imperial Valley College. Mika Camarena meets with President Ronald Reagan at the White House. Kiki was due to be reassigned in three weeks because he had come dangerously close to exposing the top leaders of a multi-billion drug pipeline. In an interview, regarding the same, she said: I want the truth to be out. . These people and I have never chatted. The bottom line: Gallardo went way too far by targeting Camarena. There had been tensions between the Mexican government and the DEA after Mexico enacted a law limiting the U.S. agency's operations. In addition to this, she has been pretty vocal in the aftermath of the recent news, which has witness accounts to claim that a DEA agent and a CIA operative were involved in the murder of her husband. He is telling the story of his father,DEA agent Enrique Camarena and story of #RedRibbonWeek #inspiringyoungminds Thanks for your fathers and your service to our communities .#msasdonaroll pic.twitter.com/2rAEDOOVgM, Principal Serce (@mr_serce) October 23, 2018, He told NBC San Diego of his dad, You know, I think about him every day. After his death, she focused on raising her three kids and worked hard as a skin-care consultant. I lost everything: I lost sensitivity, my hearing, my eyesight," said the man known as "The Boss of Bosses," while complaining of the health ailments that have plagued him in recent years. After completing her studies, Mika Camarena began working as a medical insurance clerk for a doctor in Calexico. Camarena received many awards and is considered an American hero. Her eldest son Enrique became a deputy district attorney in 2014, working in the South Bay. The inclusion of a link on this website does not constitute an official endorsement, guarantee, or approval by DEA. In real life, Camarenas wife was indeed named Mika, and she is the mother of his three children. And I'm going to be serving my county, serving this community in a different way.". Of the 10, three agreed to be interviewed for this story. It has been some time since the valiant agent passed away, and his body was discovered in 1985. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Flix Gallardo: Since I havent made a mistake, I have nothing to repent. Camarena was abducted by corrupt officers on behalf of the cartel in Guadalajara, Mexico, in February 1985. The foundations three main programs include placement of memorial Camarena busts, scholarships for high school senior students, and participation in the Red Ribbon campaign. However, she gradually distanced herself from the details about the case in order to focus more on what used to drive him during his lifetime: to not let the drug cartels win. He worked in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he and Mika lived with their three sons Enrique, Daniel, and Erik. Michael Pea plays DEA Agent Enrique Kiki Camarena in Season 1 of Narcos: Mexico. I am going on 76 years. Today, Fonseca is on house arrest, and Caro Quintera was released from prison in 2013 on a legal technicality and is being sought by the U.S. Camarenas death changed the face of Mexican drug cartels. Though she keeps a private Instagram account, her Facebook page has various updates of events from her life. Caro Quintero had walked free in 2013 after 28 years in prison when a court overturned his 40-year sentence for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent . Survivors benefits were raised after Kikis death, so my childrens education was paid for.. In a talk, she, In an interview, she also spoke of the changes that have come out in the aftermath of her husbands death. So, why would drug dealers go after and kill Camarena, a fairly low-level drug agent? Many people in Calexico had began wearing red ribbons after Kiki was murdered, a gesture that later turned into the Red Ribbon campaign and is now celebrated for a week during October 23-31 each year. Ten of the informants were eyewitnesses to the kidnapping and murder of Kiki Camarena. Flix Gallardo, 75, the co-founder of the Guadalajara cartel, he was re-sentenced to 37 years for Camarena's murder. Amazon Primes The Last Narc traces the events after Kikis death as a dogged DEA agent uncovers the shocking truth and the murky conspiracy that links the blood-soaked drug wars in Mexico to the corridors of power in Washington. Dont give it up because theyll win. He was raised in California, graduating from Calexico High School in Calexico, California in 1966. My life expectancy is nonexistent. We didnt see a lot of effort (to capture Caro Quintero) in the last several years, especially when (Lpez Obrador) came in and immediately started to dismantle a lot of the infrastructure and the bilateral relationships between the U.S. and Mexico relative to drug trafficking, Vigil said. Soon after, they got hitched and had three sons . Mika Camarena lives in her home in Chula Vista, California. I was born in 46. Unfortunately, he was brutally murdered on the job in Mexico in 1985 by the Guadalajara Cartel, per theDEA. . Mika Camarena was born in Fresno in the year 1948. Today, the eight-day celebration is an annual catalyst to show intolerance for drugs in our schools, workplaces, and communities. Don Neto, also known by his full name of Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, was a key figure in the growth of the . It shows that she is in a relationship with Ricardo, who, according to one of her comments, works at a Ford Agency. The former DEA agent Kiki Camarenas death has been a testimony to the violent and political nature of drug cartels that form the backbone of the manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs. The organization offers life-size bronze busts of Kiki to be unveiled at schools and libraries in San Diego and across the country. And that is what he didin life and through his death. And thats what Ive been doing up until yesterday. This is a United States Government, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website. And thats what Ive been doing up until yesterday. Mika Camarena was born in Fresno in the year 1948. The couple was planning their return to the states at the time of his death; specifically, San Diego. After seeing Caro Quintero walk out of a Mexican prison once already, Vigil said he hopes the government won't risk a repeat Guzman twice escaped from Mexican maximum security prisons and would agree to a likely U.S. extradition request. Was he really abducted? Full Context. "There is no hiding place for anyone who kidnaps, tortures, and murders American law enforcement. While he shared very little details with her to keep her from worrying, she was well-aware of the dangers of his job. Our youth will lose.. It all started with one man. Moreover, if its vengeance for costing the cartel lots of money, why not simply assassinate him? The DEA Museum presents: "Remembering Kiki: Through the Eyes of his Family, Friends, & Colleagues". Cartels have never existed in Guadalajara. The work he performed had never been done at that level. Quite the opposite, I hope he succeeds. I don't even know why I'm here. Not much is known about Erik or Daniel. She, Mika Camarena lives in her home in Chula Vista, California. View these interviews at The Enrique S. Camarena Foundation received the full support of her husband's colleagues and her oldest son, Enrique Jr. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. However, she recently received unprecedented media attention after Netflix produced the crime-drama series 'Narcos: Mexico' in 2018, which depicted the tragic story of her husband. And if the cop or the judge happen to be U.S. federal agents or a federal judge, youre going to have the full force of the U.S. government being brought to bear on you. Caro Quintero was one of the primary suppliers of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana to the United States in the late 1970s. I believe in Sonora, in general, there could be calm, and yes, relief for us, because I believe the disappearances will diminish, said Cecilia Duarte, an activist with a team of volunteer searchers in Sonora who look for the clandestine graves of the disappeared. Did he really move to Guadalajara, Mexico and work for the DEA? Hector, listen, the CIA was working with the drug guys to get money for the contras. Each year, on October 23-31, more than 80 million . In 2020 alone, a total of 34,515 homicides were registered. I received a plastic bag over my head to suffocate me. Kiki became a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 1974. However, she grew up in Calexico. Camarena earned a BA from the prestigious Dartmouth College before securing his JD from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law. Take out your list of movies to watch and place The Last Narc at the top of your list. Flix Gallardo: No. DEA His family knew that being a Special Agent could be very dangerous. His name is still seen on T-shirts. She dedicates her time to promoting drug awareness in schools and communities nationwide.. In addition to this, she has been pretty vocal in the aftermath of the recent news, which has witness accounts to claim that a DEA agent and a CIA operative were involved in the murder of her husband. The men in question were working under the orders of the big wigs of the Guadalajara cartel. N arcos: Mexico 's first two seasons revolve around the 1985 murder of undercover DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was abducted . Gallardo was sentenced to 37 years in 2017 for the death of Camarena by a Mexican court (as well as the murder of Alfredo Zavala, a Mexican pilot), according to The Times. They were mostly guys in their early 30s who had joined the DEA with the patriotic aim of winning the war on drugs. He continues the legacy of justice within the family. President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador has maintained that he is not interested in detaining drug lords and prefers to avoid violence. All rights reserved, San Diego and California's COVID-19 Emergency Declarations Expire Tuesday. He was added to the FBIs top 10 most wanted list in 2018. Enrique is around 46, while Erik is 41 years old, and Daniel, the youngest, is 39. Scoprite #TheLastNarc, la storia di un eroe caduto e di un uomo che ha rischiato tutto per rivelare la spaventosa verit, indagando fra propaganda e corruzione. She should feel relieved that the culprits are serving time. Rafael Caro Quintero walked free while serving a 40-year sentence for the torture-murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985, and has since apparently . According to its website, no other event so galvanized public opinion against drug trafficking and abuse., The foundation offers scholarships to high school seniors, as well as a bust program in Camarena's likeness as a memorial to those lost in the struggle against drug trafficking or drug abuse., La vita di un vero Narcos non come ve la immaginate. In a talk, she said: When theres no demand, theres no power for the dealers., In an interview, she also spoke of the changes that have come out in the aftermath of her husbands death. Soon after high school, Camarena joined the Marines. That was the last time anyone but his kidnappers would see him alive, reveals the DEA, adding that he likely died two days later. Kiki Camarena was missing and nobody knew what had happened at that time. Caro Quintero had walked free in 2013 after 28 years in prison when a court overturned his 40-year sentence for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent . Amazingly, Gallardo was only recently sentenced in the death (hed been sentenced before but a retrial was ordered; he never left prison after 1989, though). Read More: Narcos: Mexico Filming Locations. And Im going to be serving my county, serving this community in a different way., Camarena, much like his father, is a peoples person. His left arm was in a cast because he fell a few weeks ago. Camarena and the DEA's investigation into Caro Quintero and the Guadalajara Cartel in the mid-80s was detailed in the hit Netflix show "Narcos: Mexico.". Flix Gallardo: As the honest person that I always was, a man who wasn't into weapons. Vigil said he was surprized by Caro Quintero's arrest, considering Lpez Obrador's stated disinterest in going after drug cartel leaders, but he added that the DEA would never stop looking for someone who killed an agent. Noticias Telemundo: How has your life been in prison? I'm not asking anything from the president. Camarena les . Geneva Camarena returned to California after her husband's death and relocated to San Diego. Caro Quintero was from Badiraguato, Sinaloa, the same area as Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the former Sinaloa cartel leader now serving a life sentence in the United States. Camarena Educational Foundation in 2004 exactly for the purpose. . Enrique S. Camarena Jr. was 11 when members of a narco-trafficking cartel tortured and murdered his father, nicknamed Kiki, in Mexico in February, 1985 -- a tragic milestone in a drug war that still rages on. At age 40, Camarena Jr. takes the Superior Court bench after 15 years as a deputy district attorney in San Diego County, and his swearing-in ceremony drew a capacity gallery in the court's presiding department. (You can see photos of the real people behind the Narcos: Mexico characters here.) Registered as a Republican, Camarenas job and family history has naturally solidified his anti-drugs stance. Kiki and his wife Mika are pictured here on their wedding day. Today, her six living children, all daughters, enjoy professional careers in the public sector and are employed with various federal and state agencies throughout the state and region. The money goes toward scholarships. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. They still seem to be together as she has not changed her status. Flix Gallardo: I never met that person. He was born on July 26, 1947, in the small town of Mexicali in Baja California. Ernesto Don Neto Fonseca and Rafael Caro Quintero were other cartel leaders involved. In a statement after Quintero's arrest on Friday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland marked the end to the manhunt and paid tribute to Camarena. "My health is terrible. Drug dealers don't blindfold and record interrogations to kill someone. Have you ever thought of escaping? Today, she lives in Chula Vista. Here's What That Means, Aztecs Falter Late, Boise State Ends Six-Game Win Streak, Nanny Sentenced for Killing 4-Week-Old San Diego Baby She Was Hired to Care For, Fishermen Find Missing Man's Remains Inside Shark's Stomach Off Argentina Coast, More Mysterious Booms' Heard Round San Diego, Brace For More Winter Weather, San Diego. They still seem to be together as she has not changed her status. Why were you linked to this murder? Watch on. We also speak in favor of the Red Ribbon campaign and drug awareness. Flix Gallardo was first arrested in April 1989 and has spent 32 years in prison in Mexico for the 1985 murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar. Kiki's children Enrique, Daniel, and Eric mourned the loss of their father. Camarena, who was behind a series of hefty drug seizures linked to Caro-Quintero in the 1980s, including a whopping $2.5 billion bust, had been actively wiretapping the cartel, USA Today reported. Dont give up the war. The non-profit's aim is to fight against youth drug use and abuse. The Times noted that the bodies appeared to have been tortured and were found near a ranch in Michoacan state. We sell bronze life-size busts of Kiki that are unveiled in schools and libraries throughout the country, not just in San Diego. The first question was why, after so many years, he had decided to grant an interview. Red Ribbon Week started in 1985 in Kikis hometown of Calexico, California, and soon gained momentum across California and then the rest of the country. He told me very little because he didnt want me to worry. The book alleges that DEA officers investigating Camarenas death knew that the drug agents murder was a joint operation between the drug cartel and the DFS, an agency with intimate ties to the CIA., Kuykendall said, The CIA didnt give a damn about anything but Cuba and the Soiets. 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