The Release of Mexican Drug Lord Rafael Caro Quintero Should be an Outrage to All Americans!

DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena

By Alexandra D. Datig - 

I was going to take some time off and finish my book “Path to Surrender,” the story of how I overcame incredible personal odds of having been a victim of human trafficking and overcoming a serious life-threatening drug addiction.

I got up this morning and put my radio dial to KNX 1070 as I usually do and heard a story so troubling I had to write a blog about it.  The story was about the release of Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero by a three-judge panel in the Mexican court.  According to the Associated Press, Quintero was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the 1985 murder and kidnapping of United States Drug Enforcement Agent Enrique “Kiki”Camarena and was released out of a prison in the western state of Jalisco after serving 28 years because he was “improperly tired.”  Camarena’s torture and murder was ordered after Quintero found out Camarena was responsible for taking down and leveling his gigantic marijuana operation in the Calexico desert. 

 Mexican Drug Lord Rafael Caro Quintero  

America should be outraged at this action by the Mexican court.  The memory of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena is one of the most tragic and brutal acts of violence against a United States law enforcement agent of its time.  The kidnapping of Camarena launched the largest investigations during the Reagan Administration.  When the facts came to light and Camarena was found dead, it was discovered he was brutally tortured for three days, after which he was violently murdered.  The details of Camarena’s murder were revealed in audio tape recordings that were taped during the actual torture and murder of Camarena.  U.S. Agents involved in the investigation who, with the help of Mexican officials, identified Quintero on the tapes as well as several corrupt Mexican government officials. 

The tapes revealed Camarena was being interrogated while being beaten, raped and sodomized, having his bones broken and his organs punctured, all while medical doctors were standing by making sure they would keep Camarena alive as long as possible to prolong his suffering and agony.  Camarena’s autopsy later revealed he died from blunt force trauma to the head.  The details of the investigation lead to the apprehension of Quintero and others directly and indirectly responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Camarena.

As a result of the Camarena investigation, the Reagan Administration rolled out the “Just Say No” campaign lead by then First Lady Nancy Reagan.  “Just Say No” was one of the most effective national drug prevention programs in the country.  Additionally, Enrique “Kiki” Camarena is remembered each year through the efforts of Red Ribbon week, a national effort commemorating efforts in drug prevention.  Red Ribbon week was founded by two of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena’s friends from high school.  One being Henry Lozano, White House Advisor to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Center Director for Teen Challenge.

The Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, R. Gil Kerlikowske says the term “war on drugs” is antiquated and that ONDCP no longer believes this term applies to the conflicts the United States has with Mexico’s drug lords.  President Obama has publicly stated he believes the war on drugs is a failure.  Today, it is quite possible that neither of these statements are true.  After the release of Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, we can no longer count on the Mexican government as a reliable partner in combating drug cartels.  The release of Quintero is an outrageous move by the Mexican judicial system that rewards the murder of sworn U.S. law enforcement personnel who risk his and her life every day to combat drug trafficking.

For more on Enrique "Kiki" Camarena visit:  www.camarenafoundation.org

Footage from the movie "Drug Wars" the Camarena Story