DEA Agents Exposed in Corruption Scandal: AP Investigation Reveals Disturbing Culture

MIAMI (AP) — A trove of secret law enforcement documents obtained by The Associated Press has unveiled a troubling culture of corruption within the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The investigation highlights a group of agents who allegedly exploited the agency's money laundering operations to engage in excessive drinking and illicit sexual activities. Among the shocking revelations is a WhatsApp chat where agents boasted about their so-called “world debauchery tour,” sharing explicit images and making light of serious offenses, including a reference to “forcible anal rape.” This chat included José Irizarry, a notorious agent now serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption. The investigation also delves into a specific incident involving agent Zoumberos, who faced allegations of sexual assault in Madrid in April 2018. Zoumberos claimed the encounter was consensual, while the woman involved stated she had clearly expressed her lack of consent. A Spanish judge ultimately dismissed the case, citing insufficient justification for the allegations. Despite the serious nature of the claims, the DEA's internal response was minimal, issuing only a reprimand for “poor judgment” without conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. The DEA has faced scrutiny for its handling of misconduct allegations, with the FBI and a federal grand jury in Tampa investigating the agency's money laundering operations for several years. Irizarry's guilty plea in 2020 has prompted further examination of the agency's practices. Currently, only one of the agents involved in the group chat remains with the DEA.