### Primary Article: U.S. Declassifies Document on DEA Agent “Kiki” Camarena’s Murder; Mentions Bartlett
In a significant development, the United States government has declassified a memorandum from March 1986 that details the investigation into the assassination of DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Salazar. This document mentions Manuel Bartlett Díaz, the current head of Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and former Secretary of the Interior of Mexico (SEGOB), suggesting potential involvement with narcotics traffickers.
According to the newly released memo, U.S. agents had “strong suspicions” that Bartlett, who held a significant government position at the time, was collaborating with the drug traffickers responsible for Camarena’s abduction and murder. The memorandum, which was requested through Freedom of Information Act petitions by journalist Juan Alberto Cedillo and Ieva Jusionyte from Brown University, highlights the FBI’s concerns about widespread corruption and the potential involvement of high-ranking Mexican officials in narcotics protection schemes.
The document states, “[The FBI office in] Mexico City strongly suspects that the narcotics protection activities -redacted- did not benefit only him but potentially reached the Secretary of the Interior, Manuel Bartlett Díaz. While these are merely strong suspicions rooted in indications of extensive corruption and extortion activities of -redacted-, it is not difficult to logically conclude that these activities ultimately benefit the main leaders of the Mexican government.”
The memo also points out that an informant’s life was at risk for speaking with U.S. agents. This informant, referred to as a confidential source abroad (CSA), speculated about Bartlett’s involvement, though many parts of the document remain redacted.
Camarena, a former Marine, firefighter, police officer, and deputy sheriff, was on the verge of uncovering a billion-dollar drug route from Mexico to the U.S. in 1985 when he was kidnapped while on his way to lunch with his wife in Guadalajara. His body, along with that of Alfredo Zavala Avelar, an aviator for the now-defunct Secretariat of Agriculture and Water Resources, was discovered a month later in Michoacán, bearing signs of torture.
The U.S. government stated that Rafael Caro Quintero, a notorious drug lord, allegedly issued the kidnapping orders. Camarena’s abduction on February 7, 1985, involved five armed men who forced him into a car. It is believed that Camarena was killed two to three days following his kidnapping, although his body was not found until March 5, 1985. Camarena is survived by his wife and three children.
### Secondary Article: Recent Insights and Developments in the “Kiki” Camarena Case
In related news, new revelations continue to emerge regarding the investigation into the brutal murder of DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. Recent interviews and testimonies have shed additional light on the historical context and the broader implications of the case.
According to an article from a reputable source, multiple testimonies have suggested a deeper involvement of U.S. and Mexican government officials than initially suspected. Investigative journalist Anabel Hernández revealed that during the 1980s, the operations against the Guadalajara Cartel were not only a matter of drug enforcement but also intertwined with political interests and covert operations.
Another significant development is the ongoing effort to apprehend key figures implicated in the case. Rafael Caro Quintero, who was released from prison in 2013 on a legal technicality and subsequently became a fugitive, remains at large. The U.S. government has intensified its efforts to bring him to justice, offering a substantial reward for information leading to his capture.
More recently, former DEA agents have come forward with additional details about their investigations and the challenges they faced in the politically charged environment of the time. These revelations are particularly compelling in light of the recently declassified memo, reinforcing the long-held suspicions of corruption and complicity at the highest levels of government.
As the “Kiki” Camarena case continues to be a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the war on drugs, these new pieces of information contribute toward understanding the depth and complexity of the fight against narcotic trafficking and government corruption.