E|168 The Cartel That Woke The Giant

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF The Murder of Agent Camarena: The Cartel That Woke the Giant This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn takes listeners inside one of the most brutal and consequential crimes of the modern drug war — the kidnapping, torture, and murder of dedicated DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Salazar, carried out at the behest of the Guadalajara Cartel in the mid-1980s. Camarena wasn’t just another name on a case file. He was a husband, a father, and an agent who believed that justice mattered — even when the forces he was up against had infinite money, political influence, and a willingness to destroy anyone who stood in their way. But what cartel leaders didn’t anticipate… was what would happen next. Because Camarena’s murder didn’t end with silence. It triggered something rare: a full-force response from the United States government — an investigation so vast and relentless it became one of the DEA’s largest murder hunts in history, stretching across borders and years. What followed was not just law enforcement — it was pursuit. A slow, grinding campaign of pressure, intelligence, and endurance designed to make sure the people responsible could never fully disappear into the world they’d built. For this episode, Carolyn interviews a retired DEA agent who had a front row seat for more than 30 years of the so-called “war on drugs” — offering firsthand insight into how cartel power really functions, what justice looks like when it takes decades, and what it costs the men and women who spend their lives trying to hold the line. This one is heavy. It’s infuriating. And it’s essential listening. Content Warning This episode includes discussion of kidnapping, torture, and murder. 🎧 LISTEN & FOLLOW If you’re enjoying the show, make sure you’re following the entire Evio Creative lineup wherever you get your podcasts—The Devil Within, The Ides of April, Criminal Mischief, Taboo Treasures, Finding Me with Josh Wolf and more—so you never miss a new episode. ⭐ RATE & REVIEW Ratings and reviews genuinely help independent shows grow. If you have a moment, leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more than you think, and yes, we read them. 📺 WATCH & SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE You can now watch full video episodes, clips, and exclusives from all Evio Creative shows on our YouTube channel. 👉 Subscribe to Evio Creative on YouTube and turn on notifications so you don’t miss new drops across the network. 📲 FOLLOW ON SOCIAL Follow us on Instagram for updates, visuals, and behind-the-scenes content:     •    @thedevilwithinpod     •    @idesofaprilpod     •    @eviocreative 🌐 VISIT THE NETWORK Explore all of our shows, projects, and upcoming releases at eviocreative.com ✉️ GET IN TOUCH Have a story, tip, correction, or something you think we should cover? Email us at [email protected] 🔁 SHARE THE SHOW If you know someone who loves true crime, history, horror, or stories that refuse to let go—share the episode. Word of mouth keeps this network alive. 💼 SPONSORS 🧥 QUINCE Luxury essentials at affordable prices. Free shipping + 365-day returns: www.QUINCE.com/MISCHIEF (http://www.quince.com/MISCHIEF) 📱 MINT MOBILE Premium wireless for just $15/month. Switch and get free shipping: http://www.mintmobil.com/DEVILWITHIN 🛰️ EXPRESSVPN Protect your data anywhere. Get up to 4 months free: www.ExpressVPN.com/DEVILWITHIN (http://www.expressvpn.com/DEVILWITHIN) 🌿 MOOD CBD and THC gummies shipped nationwide. 20% off: http://www.mood.com/DEVILWITHIN 🐶 OLLIE DOG FOOD Real, fresh, human-grade meals for your dog. 60% off your first box: http://www.ollie.com/IDES 🔥 MONARCH  The only finance app you’ll ever need. For 50% off your first year: http://www.monarch.com/IDES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices