Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

Episode 35 (Rev) -- Mexican Cartels: Your Questions Answered

After a few reports of issues, here is a new version of Episode 35.

Episode 35 -- Mexican Cartels: Your Questions Answered

Over the last few months, many listeners have asked questions about Mexican cartels today, the Camarena case, and the traffickers in Guadalajara at the time of Agent Camarena's abduction. 
In this episode, I answer some of the most popular questions, discussing the current turf battles in Mexico and the leadership of the cartels.  We also examine Agent Camarena's abduction and some of the key circumstances surrounding his interrogations.

Episode 34 -- El Mayo, El Mencho, and a Brief History of Mexican Cartels

As our discussions move beyond just the Camarena case, listeners may not be familiar with the significant Mexican cartels or their most notorious leaders.  This Episode provides a high-level history of the cartel-system in Mexico, identifies the prominent cartels and their areas of influence in the U.S., and discusses the two most known and infamous leaders of Mexican cartels today -- El Mencho and El Mayo.   

Episode 33 -- The SEDENA Hacks: Extradition and Caro Quintero’s Return to Power

The SEDENA hacked documents reviewed thus far have provided new insights into the extradition process between Mexico and the United States, including U.S. efforts to increase the number of extraditions from Mexico, and, specifically, its strong desire to have Caro Quintero extradited.  Also, the hacks provide clear evidence of Caro's involvement in drug trafficking following his release in 2013, including his assumption of control of the Beltran Leyva Organization in 2017. 
In this episode, we look at these revelations from the SEDENA documents and speculate on what they may mean in relation to the possible extradition of Caro Quintero and its timing.  

Episode 32 -- Testimony v. Facts: Las Americas Hotel and Manuel Bartlett Diaz

As time goes by, finding concrete facts relating to the Camarena case becomes more and more difficult.  In this episode, though, we look at testimony and statements from Godoy and Lopez regarding an alleged meeting at the Las Americas Hotel and a February 7 meeting where it is claimed Manuel Bartlett Diaz was present.  In contrast to the uncorroborated statements of Godoy and Lopez, we look for verifiable facts -- statements, affidavits, pictures, and contemporaneous press reports to question the veracity of those claims.  

Episode 31 -- Analyzing Agent Berrellez’s ”Assertions”

In a recent telephone conversation, Agent Berrellez made several assertions and asked me to look at them with an open mind, to which I agreed. 
In this episode, we analyze those assertions seeking factual support and consistency.  In the end, our review leaves us questioning many of the contentions aired in "The Last Narc" and doubting the veracity of the witnesses relied upon by the prosecution, Agent Berrellez, and the filmmakers.  

Episode 30: What the Mexican Military Hacks Say About the Government and the Cartels

The recent hacks of the Mexican Secretariat of National Defenses and subsequent release of more than 4 million documents has led to intriguing headlines and claims.  In this episode, we look at the documents released, the impact of those documents on the intelligence apparatus in Mexico and public perception of the military.  Finally, and significantly, we look at what these documents say, thus far, about the relationship between the Mexican government, the military, and the Cartels.  

Episode 29: The ”Witnesses” Are Neither Credible Nor Consistent

The consistent refrain from supporters of the Berrellez narrative is that the witnesses have no incentive to lie and have been consistent in their statements.  
In fact, though, as demonstrated in this episode, the witnesses have had numerous incentives to lie and have been demonstrably inconsistent on important and decisive issues in this case. 
This episode presents evidence and facts to demonstrate the folly of reliance on either Godoy or Lopez.  

Episode 28: The CIA Fallacy Exposed - Pt. 2

Furthering the discussion last week on the absence of a connection between the CIA and Agent Camarena's abduction, this week we look at the statement of former DEA Agent Cele Castillo, the allegations regarding the involvement of Felix Rodriguez, and the alleged connection between Agent Camarena's murder and the assassination of journalist Manuel Buendia.
In sum, we find no evidence to support the uncorroborated testimonials of wholly unreliable witnesses and are persuaded by the absence of any contemporaneous evidence indicating involvement by the CIA in Agent Camarena's abduction, interrogation, or murder.   

Episode 27: The CIA Fallacy Exposed -- Part 1

In this week's episode, we explore the key traits of pseudointellectualism and note the representation of these traits in "The Last Narc" and the allegations made by Agent Berrellez.
We also explore the depth and breadth of the Iran Contra investigations and reports, specifically focusing on the investigations into the connections between the Contras and drug trafficking.  We highlight the testimony provided by people close to the Camarena case and the allegations of CIA involvement, and we search, to no avail, for any evidence of CIA involvement in Agent Camarena's abduction or interrogation.