Enrique Kiki Camarena Salazar

Enrique Kiki Camarena Salazar was a Mexican-American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent who played a crucial role in the fight against drug trafficking in Mexico during the 1980s. Born in 1947 in Mexicali, he became known for his undercover work that led to the discovery and destruction of large marijuana cultivation sites operated by the Guadalajara Cartel. Tragically, he was kidnapped and murdered in February 1985, making him the first active DEA agent to be killed in the line of duty. His death sparked a significant response from U.S. law enforcement, leading to Operation Leyenda, which aimed to dismantle the Guadalajara Cartel and marked a turning point in the U.S. government's approach to drug-related crime in Mexico.