Dea Agent Kiki Camaren was killed in Mexico in 1985. His alleged killer is now in the US

The agent Dea Enrique “Kiki” Camaren disappeared in 1985, shortly after he helped collapse marijuana surgery in billions of dollars in Mexico.

Headed for lunch with her husband Mika, February 7, 1985, Camarena, at the age of 37, was Surrounded by five armed men who threw him into the car and ran, according to the drug administration. He should have switched to the US only three weeks later, Dea said.

About a month after he disappeared, the body found There is about 60 miles away on the ranch, Dea states. They tortured him.

Almost four decades later, his alleged killer, Lord drug Rafael Caro Quinteromoves to the US -in together with 28 other prisoners The US government requested, the Ministry of Justice confirmed on Thursday night.

“This moment is extremely personal for men and women from Dea who believe that Caro Quintero is responsible for the brutal torture and murder of a special agent Dea ‘Kiki’ Kiki ‘Camaren. This is also a victory for the Camarena family,” said acting administrator Derek S. Maltz in a statement.

“Today he sends a message to every cartel leader, every trade trader, every criminal poisoning of our communities: you will be responsible. No matter how long it takes, no matter how far you run, justice will find you.”

Father of three sons who serve his country

Camarena, father of three sons, lived in Guadalajara in Mexico, and his family works as a secret agent Dea, his son told CBS News In 2017 interview. He was stationed there for four years on the trail of the greatest marijuana and cocaine.

He was with Dea for 11 years after serving in the US Marine Corps and as a firefighter police, officer and deputy sheriff of the Imperial in Calexic, California, where he grew up, Dea said. Camaren was born in Mexicali, Mexico, and moved to the US when he was nine years old.

He married his high school dear, and together with their young family they moved to Mexico in 1981.

At that time, the leader of Cartel Guadalajar Quaintero He was one of the main suppliers of heroin, cocaine and marijuana in the US in the late 1970s. He blamed Camaren for the 1984 Mexican authorities at the marijuana plantation, Rancho Bufalo, who upset his job.

Dea said at the time that it was the biggest attack of medication ever.

In retaliation, Camaren is believed to be abducted in Guadalajara, allegedly by the order of Caro Quintero.

Camarena’s son, who shares the same name as his father, Enrique, was 11 years old when his father disappeared. He remembered a few hours after he disappeared, the agents flooded the family home.

“Within about five or six hours, about ten to two dozen agents arrived,” Enrique told CBS News in that interview for 2017. But he believed his father would return home.

“Well, your father Superman,” Enrique said. “So you think, we’ll see him. It will be fine.”

Enrique and his brothers then rushed from Mexico to the US, he remembers that the agent picked him up and took him from his living room to the car he was waiting for. He would never see his father again.

Family received a call Of then President Ronald Reagan after Cameran’s body was identified. The cameraman also met with Reagan in the White House.

The red ribbon week carries its memory forward

Shortly after his death, members of his hometown of Calexico began to wear red ribbons to mark his sacrifice and launch the Camarena club in his honor, Dea states. Hundreds of club members wore red ribbons and committed to leading life without drugs.

The club members in 1985 presented the “Proclamation for the Camarena Club” to the then first lady Nancy Reagan, attracting it to national attention. Congress was officially established in 1988 Red Ribbon Weekwhich encourages parents, teachers and companies to promote a drug -free lifestyle. Later, the Enrique S. Camaren Educational Foundation was launched, which provides high school students with high school students.

AND remembrance It originated in honor of Camaren in Los Angeles in 2014.

His son Enrique, who became a San Diego judge in 2014, told CBS News to carry his father’s lessons in the courtroom. “He taught us to treat everyone fairly.”

contributed to this report.