Family of slain DEA agent sues cartel and drug kingpins for justice
- Enrique Camarena was kidnapped and murdered in 1985 as retaliation for a drug raid.
- His family has filed a lawsuit seeking justice against the Sinaloa cartel and three accused drug kingpins.
- The lawsuit is part of a broader effort to hold accountable those responsible for drug-related violence.
In March 1985, Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, a U.S. DEA agent, was kidnapped in Guadalajara, Mexico, while heading to lunch with his wife. This act of violence was retribution following the raid on Rafael Caro Quintero's marijuana plantation by U.S. and Mexican authorities. Camarena, along with his pilot Alfredo Zavala-Avelar, was subjected to over 30 hours of torture before being murdered. Their bodies were discovered wrapped in plastic in a shallow grave, revealing extensive injuries that suggested brutal treatment. The investigation led to the identification of drug kingpins Rafael Caro Quintero, Ernesto Fonseca-Carrillo, and Miguel Angel Felix-Gallardo as responsible for the heinous crime. In February 2022, following a long pursuit, Caro Quintero was arrested by the Mexican military after nearly a decade of evading justice and was later deported to the United States to face charges related to Camarena's death. After 40 years of waiting for justice, Camarena’s family took a significant step by filing a civil lawsuit in California against the Sinaloa cartel and three key suspects involved in his murder, seeking damages under a new U.S. classification of drug cartels as terrorist organizations by President Trump. The lawsuit intends to hold these individuals accountable for their roles in orchestrating Camarena's kidnapping, torture, and murder. His widow, Geneva "Mika" Camarena, expressed gratitude towards the U.S. government for enabling the legal action, alongside highlighting her husband's dedication to fighting drug trafficking that plagued Mexico and the U.S. The lawsuit's filing uncovers past transgressions that camouflaged the extensive violence inflicted by drug cartels and reiterates the ongoing impact on the families of those who have suffered because of it. As drug cartels continue to create havoc, this lawsuit is a poignant reminder of the dangers law enforcement officials face and the long-awaited pursuit of justice for victims of organized crime.