Best Jack Luellen Podcasts (2023)

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 57: Narcos: Mexico and the Camarena Case -- Setting the Record Straight (Part 2) 34:22

1h ago34:22

34:22

Narcos: Mexico portrayed many events relating to the Camarena case in such a manner that some likely believe all of those events are true and occurred as depicted. As we continue to investigate the Camarena case and seek answers to lingering questions, it is important to separate dramatic license from actual events. In this episode, we look at the …

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 56: Narcos: Mexico – Setting the Record Straight (Part 1) 36:22

9m ago36:22

36:22

Narcos: Mexico presented, over the course of three seasons, a dramatic account of the kidnapping and murder of Agent Camarena and the growth of Mexican drug trafficking. Despite clearly being a dramatization based on certain real events, some people accept as true things events presented in Narcos: Mexico that are partially dramatized or even compl…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 55 -- The (Other) Knights Templar 28:24

2d ago28:24

28:24

The Knights Templar cartel formed as from a split in leadership of La Familiar Michoacana, and it left a lasting impression from its short reign. The Knights Templar history is filled with stories of their strict Code of Conduct, drug rehabilitation centers, and graphic violence. It is even alleged that their induction ceremonies included extensive…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 54: The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of La Familia Michoacana 45:11

9d ago45:11

45:11

The short reign of La Familia Michoacana as a key Mexican cartel was distinguished by their rapid growth, violent nature, and "unique" leaders, including the bible carrying Nazario Moreno González, known as El Más Loco ("The Craziest One"), and José de Jesús Méndez Vargas alias El Chango ("The Monkey" or "The Ape"). La Familia long had a fractured …

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 53: The Indictments of Los Chapitos and What They Really Mean 34:31

16d ago34:31

34:31

The recent announcement by the Department of Justice of indictments in three federal courts of Los Chapitos and many of their associates was accompanied by significant detail on the Los Chapitos organization and the efforts of the DEA to infiltrate that organization. In this Episode, we look at the indictments themselves, the statements of the DOJ,…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 52 -- The Three ”Zs” and the Ironic Downfall of Los Zetas 37:01

1M ago37:01

37:01

Led primarily by two former members of the Mexican special forces, Arturo Guzmán Decena and Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano, designated Z-1 and Z-3, respectively, the Zetas started as the military wing of the Gulf Cartel and became a fierce cartel, driven by military tactics and ruthless aggression. This Episode explores how, despite their miliary elemen…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 51- Osiel Cardenas Guillen and the Power Move that Almost Brought Down the Gulf Cartel 33:20

2M ago33:20

33:20

As part of our series analyzing the older Mexican cartels and, in particular, understanding their leaders, today we discuss Osiel Cardenas Guillen, who rose from being a mechanic in Matamoros to leader of the Guld Cartel. While heading CDG, Cardenas Guillen was directly responsible for the creation of Los Zetas, as well as the territorial and opera…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 50: The Rise, Possible Betrayal, and Fall of Alfredo Beltran Leyva 33:24

2M ago33:24

33:24

The Beltran Leyva brothers rose to a prominent role in the Sinaloa Cartel together with their long-time "friend" El Chapo, then splintered from the CDS, formed an alliance with Los Zetas, only to be decimated by arrests and killings. In this Episode, we examine the life of Alfredo Beltran Leyva in order to understand the BLO and to identify the rea…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 49: The Tragically Violent Life of El Chapo’s Former Friend and Partner El Guero Palma 39:31

2M ago39:31

39:31

Jesús Héctor Luis Palma Salazar, "El Guero" Palma, has led a tragic and violent life that has seen him rise from an impoverished childhood, to being a main cog in Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo's operation, to being a partner and friend of El Chapo Guzman. Along the way, El Guero lost his wife and sons to the violent ways of cartels, he was responsibl…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 48 -- The CIA: Black Ops, Narcotics, and El Chapo 43:31

3M ago43:31

43:31

The mythos of CIA involvement in the Camarena case warrants additional consideration and a renewed rebuttal. In this Episode, we set the stage for such reconsideration by reviewing CIA blacks ops, including public disclosures on black ops and a review of the CIA-backed Operation Gladio. We then turn our attention to allegations of CIA involvement i…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 47: A Perspective on the Evolution of Cartels in Mexico 43:20

3M ago43:20

43:20

The rise of cartels in Mexico has been the result of a number of factors, including anti-drug efforts by law enforcement around the world, the structure of the Mexican government, and the adaptive nature of the cartels and their leaders. In this Episode, we use the "Organized Crime and Violence Special Report 2021" from the University of San Diego'…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 46: The Curious Case of Dr. Humberto Alvarez Machain 31:24

3M ago31:24

31:24

Dr. Alvarez Machain was a Guadalajara doctor who often provided medical services to drug traffickers, including Rafael Caro Quintero. Following the murder of Agent Camarena, a warrant was issued for his arrest and, in April 1990, Dr. Machain was "abducted" from Guadalajara, flown to El Paso, arrested, and charged with crimes connected to Agent Cama…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 45: The Trial of Genaro Garcia Luina -- What Happened and Why It Matters 40:30

3M ago40:30

40:30

The Brooklyn-based trial of Genaro Garcia Luna, the former Secretary of Public Security of Mexico, has neared its conclusion. In this Episode, we look at the government's case, which was based primarily on the testimony of nine cooperating witnesses, and the defense arguments and tactics. We also consider what the Garcia Luna case says about prosec…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 44: CDS and CJNG in Europe, the Middle East, and Around the World 28:11

4M ago28:11

28:11

Mexican cartels have been steadily expanding their operations beyond North and Central America, particularly in Europe and the Middle East. In this Episode, we look at these expanded operations, their root causes, and the implications the growth could have on issues such as increased crime and terrorism. Finally, we look at the impact of the cartel…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 43 -- The Unholy Trinity: Fentanyl, China and Mexican Cartels 26:31

4M ago26:31

26:31

The fentanyl crisis continues to attract media and Congressional attention. In this Episode, we look at the issue by first looking at the drug itself, its legal and illegal uses, and its manufacturing. We then investigate China's distribution of precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, as well as Chinese money laundering operations t…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 42: The Capture of Ovidio Guzman: What Really Happened and What It Means 36:37

4M ago36:37

36:37

New and intriguing details of the January 5, 2023, arrest of Ovidio Guzman, one of Los Chapitos, the leaders of a prime faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, have continued to emerge both in the press and on social media. In this Episode, we look at those new details and try to draw some conclusions as to what they mean for Los Chapitos, CDS as a whole, a…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 41 -- CDS and CJNG: Past, Present, and Future 46:50

4M ago46:50

46:50

CJNG and CDS dominate the cartel landscape in Mexico today. But the two cartels operate in distinct ways and have very different strategies, economically and structurally. In this Episode, we compare and contrast the operations of CDS and CJNG and identify key questions about the future of each cartel.…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 40 -- El Chapo, Los Chapitos, and the Sinaloa Cartel 50:22

4M ago50:22

50:22

In order to understand today's Mexican cartels and the cartel wars, it is critical to understand the (mostly) men and families that formed and lead the cartels of today and the past. After looking at El Mencho and El Mayo, in this Episode we examine El Chapo's rise to power, his blood battles with the Tijuana Cartel and the BLO, and his arrest and …

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 39 -- Who Is El Mayo and How Has He Survived So Long? 40:05

5M ago40:05

40:05

Ismael Zambada Garcia, or "El Mayo," has been a key leader of the Sinaloa Cartel since 1989, overseeing the Cartel's rise to being one of the most influential drug trafficking, criminal organizations in the world. Despite his prominence, El Mayo has stayed in power for more than 3 decades by being a strategic thinker who has kept those in his organ…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 38: Who Really is El Mencho and Why Hasn’t He Been Captured? 35:38

5M ago35:38

35:38

CJNG has exploded into one of the largest and most successful Cartels in Mexico and is responsible for a significant portion of the drugs trafficked from Mexico into the US. CJNG's rise to power, it's almost unmatched brutality, and its economic prowess all can be attributed to its unquestioned leader El Mencho. Shockingly, the public information o…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 37 -- Hidden ”Gems” in Congressional Report on Mexican Cartels 58:58

5M ago58:58

58:58

In June, the Congressional Research Service issued a report titled "Mexico: Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Organizations." In this episode, we look at the key elements of the report, including its analysis of current Mexican cartels, their illicit activities, and their leadership. We also discuss some of the drawbacks to or flaws in the repor…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 36 -- An Inside Look into the Arellano Felix Organization (Mexico’s Tijuana Cartel) 1:03:56

5M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Steve Duncan is a retired Special Agent with the California Department of Justice where he spent years investigating the AFO on both sides of the border. In this Episode, Steve shares his extensive knowledge and unique perspectives on the AFO, dispels oft repeated misinformation, and provides critical insight into this brutally prolific cartel and …

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 35 (Rev) -- Mexican Cartels: Your Questions Answered 1:11:05

6M ago1:11:05

1:11:05

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

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 35 -- Mexican Cartels: Your Questions Answered 1:11:05

6M ago1:11:05

1:11:05

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 Age…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 34 -- El Mayo, El Mencho, and a Brief History of Mexican Cartels 56:25

6M ago56:25

56:25

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…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 33 -- The SEDENA Hacks: Extradition and Caro Quintero’s Return to Power 40:32

6M ago40:32

40:32

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 …

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 32 -- Testimony v. Facts: Las Americas Hotel and Manuel Bartlett Diaz 44:08

7M ago44:08

44:08

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 uncorroborat…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 31 -- Analyzing Agent Berrellez’s ”Assertions” 45:38

7M ago45:38

45:38

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 o…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 30: What the Mexican Military Hacks Say About the Government and the Cartels 47:38

7M ago47:38

47:38

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 significant…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 29: The ”Witnesses” Are Neither Credible Nor Consistent 56:19

7M ago56:19

56:19

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…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 28: The CIA Fallacy Exposed - Pt. 2 40:55

8M ago40:55

40:55

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 B…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 27: The CIA Fallacy Exposed -- Part 1 39:06

8M ago39:06

39:06

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 Contr…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 26: The Criminal Behind the Government’s Case 49:05

8M ago49:05

49:05

Many of the witnesses presented at the Camarena-related criminal trials were brought to the U.S. by Antonio Garate Bustamonte, a former Mexican police officer and indicted drug trafficker. Each of the three witnesses relied upon in The Last Narc were also "suppled" by Garate. Unbelievably, though, Hector Berrellez admits that the DEA didn't trust G…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 25 -- The Misapplication, Mischaracterization, and Misuse of Facts 45:42

9M ago45:42

45:42

Many of those advancing scandalous theories in connection with Agent Camarena's kidnapping and murder, including Agent Berrellez, Tiller Russell, and Amazon Prime, have done so based on "asserted" facts that are not facts but, instead, unsupported statements and accusations. This episode exposes the repeated and malicious misuse of the term "facts"…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 23 -- ”The Last Narc” Jeopardizing the Case Against Caro-Quintero 43:19

9M ago43:19

43:19

In the most significant episode so far, we examine how the many social media statement made by Hector Berrellez and others, many of which contains factual errors, inconsistencies, or flaws of logic, are shared widely without challenge. Most importantly, we discuss how those statements could negatively impact any potential prosecution of Caro-Quinte…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 22 -- The CJNG and the Violence in Mexico 45:36

9M ago45:36

45:36

The recent violence in border towns in Mexico has been in the news and the subject of discussion. This week, we look at the primary source of this violence, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, its history and leadership. In addition, we try to find some links to the past and make some assertions about the cartel system in today's Mexico.…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 21 -- Questioning J. Jesus Esquivel’s ”La CIA, Camarena y Caro-Quintero” 39:10

10M ago39:10

39:10

In this episode, we look into the factual assertions made by author and journalist J. Jesus Esquivel in his book, La CIA, Camarena y Caro-Quintero. Specifically, we point out errors and inconsistencies that call into question the validity of other factual assertions in the book, as well as the veracity of any statements made by Godoy, Lopez Romero,…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 20 -- Re-Examining The Last Narc: Part 2 38:18

10M ago38:18

38:18

This episode continues our reexamination of The Last Narc, identifying additional internal inconsistencies and inaccuracies that further erode the credibility of the Agent Berrellez, the so-called witnesses, and the docuseries itself.By Jack Luellen

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 19 -- A Re-Examination of The Last Narc - Part 1 30:31

10M ago30:31

30:31

The Amazon Prime docuseries The Last Narc, directed by Tiller Russell and starring retired DEA agent Hector Berrellez, makes a number of significant, if incredible, claims and assertions regarding the Camarena case. A thorough review of the program, however, reveals startling inconsistencies and factual errors in the series itself that call into qu…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 18 -- The Capture of Rafael Caro Quintero 29:56

11M ago29:56

29:56

This past Friday, Rafael Caro Quintero was captured by Mexican Marines in the state of Sinaloa. This episode looks at the known facts regarding his capture and touches on some of the issues raised by the capture and its timing. In addition, Agent Camarena's supervisor and friend, Jaime Kuykendall, gives his thoughts on these events. Out of respect …

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 17 -- Ruben Zuno-Arce: Who He Was and Why He is Important (Pt. 2) 1:02:13

11M ago1:02:13

1:02:13

Our examination of Ruben Zuno-Arce's case in this episode, combined with the facts presented in Part 1, provides a foundation for us to question the government's investigation and prosecution of the Camarena case, including issues of government overreach, dubious witnesses, paid informants, and false allegations. This analysis is relevant to not on…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 16 -- Ruben Zuno-Arce: Who He Was and Why He is Important (Pt. 1) 51:29

11M ago51:29

51:29

Ruben Zuno-Arce was a central figure in two criminal trials in the U.S., a key subject of several episodes of Narcos: Mexico, and is vilified in The Last Narc. This episode takes a look at who Mr. Zuno was, his history and background, and analyzes the two criminal trials and the witnesses against Mr. Zuno. This episode leads into next week's second…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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James Kuykendall Interview -- Part 2 (Corrected) 1:19:48

11M ago1:19:48

1:19:48

I recently learned that for many the recording of part 2 of my interview with Jaime Kuykendall was playing Jaime's answers but not my questions. Because I think that interview is so important, I am republishing it and hope you will take the time to hear the full conversation.By Jack Luellen

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 15 -- Justice Served, Justice Delayed, and Justice Denied 56:15

12M ago56:15

56:15

In this Episode, we discuss whether justice has been served, delayed, or denied with respect to several individuals, including the major traffickers, some criminal defendants, some witnesses in the criminal trials, and, especially for Agent Camarena.By Jack Luellen

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 14 -- Jaime Kuykendall Part 2 1:19:47

12M ago1:19:47

1:19:47

This episode is the second part of my interview with Jaime Kuykendall. Today, we discuss Agent Camarena's abduction, the investigation into his disappearance, the suspects, the interrogation recordings, and more.By Jack Luellen

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 13 -- An Interview with James Kuykendall - Part 1 48:10

1y ago48:10

48:10

Jaime Kuykendall. Agent Camarena's superior and friend. The man who likely knows more of the background facts of the Camarena case than any other person. A man whose reputation has been questioned. This episode is Part 1 of our interview with Agent Kuykendall, and we jump right into a discussion of The Last Narc, the DEA's Guadalajara office, and t…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 12 -- Debunking the CIA Myth in the Last Narc 48:18

1y ago48:18

48:18

A primary allegation in The Last Narc is that the CIA was directly involved in the abduction, interrogation and murder of Agent Camarena. This episode exposes the lack of credible, verifiable, contemporaneous evidence to support that allegation and questions that basic logic and foundation underlying that claim and related assertions.…

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 11 -- The Allegations of CIA Involvement in Agent Camarena’s Abduction 41:00

1y ago41:00

41:00

Allegations of CIA involvement in the abduction of Agent Camarena were widely reported but barely scrutinized. In this episode, we break down the specific allegations and begin to evaluate the support for the assertions of CIA involvement.By Jack Luellen

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 10 --Gary Webb, Barry Seal, and the CIA 50:43

1y ago50:43

50:43

In this episode, we examine the journalism of Garry Webb and the life of Barry Seal to investigate the possible role of the CIA in drug trafficking in the United States, Mexico, and South America.By Jack Luellen

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Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

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Episode 9 -- The Iran Contra Affair and Camarena 37:09

1y ago37:09

37:09

There have been several investigations into the Iran Contra Affair, each of which included testimony from a number of witnesses and produced voluminous reports. This episode examines those investigations to find what, if any, connections were found between the CIA activities in support of the Contras and Agent Camarena, or any of the drug trafficke…

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