Original story: 2/07/1985
Enrique (Kiki) S. Camarena was born on July 26, 1947 in Mexicali, Mexico. He graduated from Calexico High School in Calexico, California in 1966, and in 1968 he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After serving in the Marine Corps for two years, he joined the Calexico Police Department as a Criminal Investigator in 1970. In May of 1973, Kiki started working as a Narcotics Investigator with the El Centro Police Department.
Career advancement
He stayed with the El Centro P.D. until June 28, 1974 when he joined the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). His first assignment as a Special Agent with DEA was in a familiar place – Calexico, California. In 1977, after three years in Calexico, he was reassigned to the Fresno District Office in Northern California. Four years later, Kiki received transfer orders to Mexico, where he would work out of the Guadalajara Resident Office. For four and one-half years in Mexico, Kiki remained on the trail of the country’s biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers. And in early 1985, he was extremely close to unlocking a multi-billon dollar drug pipeline.
Kidnapping
However, before he was able to expose the drug trafficking operations to the public, he was kidnapped on February 7, 1985. On that fateful day, while headed to a luncheon with his wife, Mika, Kiki was surrounded by five armed men who threw him into a car and sped away. That was the last time anyone but his kidnappers would see him alive.
Death
It is believed that Special Agent Camarena’s death actually occurred two days later, but his body was not discovered until March 5, 1985. He was 37 years old and was survived by his wife, Mika and their three children, Enrique, Daniel and Erik. Source: DEA.gov: Kiki & the history of Red Ribbon Week
Update: 7/23/16: Suspect denies allegations
Veteran drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero is accused of ordering the torture and murder of Agent Enrique Camarena in 1985. After serving 28 years in a Mexican prison, Quintero was released in 2013. In an interview with a magazine, he denied that he was involved in the murder of Agent Camarena although he admitted to being present. The interview location was not disclosed. He also stated that he is no longer involved in illegal drug activity. However, since Quintero’s release, the DEA has been working to have him tried in a US court and is offering up to $5 million for information leading to his capture. Source: Reuters: Veteran Mexican drug lord says he didn’t kill DEA agent
