- Hector Berrellez is one of the most decorated United States Drug Enforcement Agents of all time
- The 78 years old has a career as a book/screenwriter, technical advisor, and executive producer
- He helped in bringing to light the case of the murdered DEA agent Enrique Camarena and the alleged involvement of the CIA
Nicknamed The DEA’s Elliot Ness, Hector Berrellez became a man who was bent on creating a society with less crime, especially as related to drugs and terrorism. This would lead to his becoming a highly decorated American Drug Enforcement Agent who served as a DEA Supervisor and Special Agent for 30 years until his retirement in 1996.
His contributions to the law enforcement agency couldn’t have him go unnoticed and as such received several awards including a heroism award from US Attorney General Ed Meese. His story has also been told through documentation that includes film. Knowing that there is a lot in his cart, he decided to explore other careers in writing and production known for The Last Narc: A Memoir by the DEA’s Notorious Agent (2021) and The Devil’s Garden (2016)
Biography and Early Life of Hector Berrellez
The former DEA supervisor was born on September 27, 1946, in Tucson, Arizona in the United States of America but has his roots in Mexico. His father was a bricklayer while his mother was involved in fortune-telling.
Hector was not close to a hero when he was a little boy as he grew up to become. In fact, his peers bullied him till his father had enough and urged him to learn the art of fighting.
Hector Berellez lived his earliest years away from the media but attended the prestigious University of Phoenix and the University of Michoacan, Mexico for Bachelor’s and Doctorate respectively.
Tracing His Career From The Time He Was a Homicide Cop
The former DEA agent received training as a combat and field medic at the time of the Vietnam war that lasted from 1955 to 1975.
When he was relieved with honor, he looked at the path of enforcing the law. It would lead to his becoming a cop in his home of birth, Tucson. In the earliest years of his career, Bellerez served as a homicide cop.
At the time, there was little the world knew about him until he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Prized recruit. Little by little, Hector Bellerez started to draw attention to himself when he led the arrest of several drug dealers.
Hector Reportedly Had Better Sources Than CIA and Led One of the Largest Investigations in DEA History
On February 7, 1985, DEA agent Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camerena was abducted. He would be reportedly tortured for about 30 hours and brutally killed in Mexico. The killing was a result of Camerena’s investigation that led to the Mexican Army destroying a marijuana plantation worth billions and he was also close to exposing that the CIA was working with the cartels.
His killers were allegedly Mexican cartels and CIA agents. Hector Bellerez further made huge discoveries that led to the arrest of several drug lords in Mexico. One of those arrested was Rafael Caro-Quintero. However, the cartel leader would later be released before the FBI would list him as a wanted man with a $20 million reward for his capture.
On how he was able to bring a number of the alleged culprits, Bellerez had a budget of about $3 million with a team of 20 agents. He would go through different people he knew could be of help in Mexico ranging from law enforcement agents to the office of the attorney general.
He had to pay a number of the informants $10,000 monthly. Few informants ended up losing their lives but he was able to have about 200 informants ready to be led to the United States to give accounts as witnesses. But then, he had to keep them away from each other as well as grant them witness protection.
The case definitely opened new pages in the progression of time with different facts coming up. But there was one proof, it ended up becoming one of the biggest investigations in the history of DEA. It also opened the eyes of many authors and reporters to state that Bellerez may have more informants than the CIA.
His Involvement in The Camarena’s Murder Has Been Recorded in a Documentary, The Last Narc
In July 2020, Amazon released a docuseries, a real story called The Last Narc about the death of Kiki Camarena at the age of 37.
Prior to its release, the documentary’s director, Tiller Russell was said to have made 14-year of research about the murder and would live in fear of his life.
In the story, an account of the involvement of Bellerez was exposed, as well as those of the widowed wife of Camerena, Mika Camarena, and people involved in the life and death of the former DEA agent.
The series showed those involved in the murder such as:
- Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo (El Jefe de Jefes – boss of the bosses): He received 40 years sentencing and was added another 37 years after a retrial in 2017
- Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo (Don Neto): He was found guilty and sent to 40 years in prison
- Rafael Caro Quintero: was sentenced to 40 years but served 28 years. He is currently one of the 10 most wanted fugitives by the FBI and is also wanted by DEA for extradition to the United States
See Also: Barbara Baekeland- Shocking Story Of Incest, Adultery, Murder- Everything To Know
Who is Hector Berrellez Wife and Where is He Now?
Hector has kept his marital life private but in his career, he is currently a certified polygraph examiner and established an international investigation and executive security firm, SPI Group Inc.
He started the security firm with his friend and former law enforcement official, Brandon Pender.
Also, Hector Berrellez has been dubbed an expert in terrorism, security protection, and threat assessment by the United States Government.
The 1996 retired DEA agent has also featured in The Last Narc series – a true story that gives an insight into the death of Camarena.
In the Amazon docuseries, Berrellez gave an account of how the government may be aware of what happened to Camarena in Mexico.
However, his name was listed in the lawsuit of DEA agent James Kuykendall in his sue against Amazon studios for defamation of name in The Last Narc.
Besides this, the former DEA agent has also taken to writing. He is famous for books such as The Last Narc: A Memoir by the DEA’s Notorious Agent (2021)
