Brought to Justice: Operation Leyenda

Operation Leyenda was the effort to bring to justice those responsible for the kidnapping, torture, and murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. Panelists share their recollections and insights into this complex investigation, what it meant to DEA at the time, and lessons learned. This “ripped from the headlines” topic follows the recent early release from Mexican prison of one of the principle architects of the Camarena abduction, drug trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero. Panelists include Former Administrator Jack Lawn, who led DEA during Operation Leyenda, retired Special Agent Jack Taylor, the Inspector in Charge of the Camarena case in Los Angeles, and journalist Elaine Shannon whose research into the Camarena case resulted in the book Desperados, the basis of the NBC TV miniseries Drug Wars: the Camarena Story.