A new Amazon docuseries claims that a CIA agent was involved in the torture and death of DEA operative Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena, 37.
Camarena, 37, was working for the US government in Guadalajara, Mexico when he was abducted, tortured and killed by cartel members in February 1985.
His disappearance made international headlines in February 1985, and sparked fury from the Reagan Administration, who effectively shut down the southern border in a bid to pressure Mexico to catch the culprits.
But while several Mexican drug lords were eventually convicted over Camarena's brutal slaying, the new docuseries - titled The Last Narc - contends that at least one US government official was also involved.
The Last Narc features testimony from Hector Berrellez - the American man who led the investigation into Camarena's killing.
He sensationally claims that famous CIA agent Felix Rodriquez 'partially conducted Camarena's interrogation and torture because the US government feared that he was about to stumble on a much larger conspiracy'.
According to The Daily Beast, The Last Narc asserts that 'the CIA was in bed with the cartels, moving guns, drugs and cash through them in order to covertly fund Nicaragua's anti-communist Contras.'
Former CIA agent Felix Rodriquez is pictured. He has previously denied having anything to do with Camarena's torture or death
The Last Narc features testimony from Hector Berrellez - the American man who led the investigation into Camarena's killing. He sensationally claims that famous CIA agent Felix Rodriquez 'partially conducted Camarena's interrogation and torture because the US government feared that he was about to stumble on a much larger conspiracy'
Several other people also involved in the investigation into Camarena's death also back up Berrellez's claims in The Last Narc.
However, it's not the first time Berrellez has claimed the US government was involved in the crime.
Back in 2015, he told LA Weekly that one witness who was present during Camarena's torture told him: 'The whole case stinks, and if you don't step away you'll stink, too. Your own government killed him.'
At the time, a CIA spokesman responded to the claims, saying: 'It's ridiculous to suggest that the CIA had anything to do with the murder of a U.S. federal agent.'
Rodriguez himself has also repeatedly denied having any involvement in Camarena's death, according to Matter.
However, 35 years on, rumors that the US government was complicit in the DEA agent's death continue to persist.
Camarena is pictured with wife Mika and two of their sons shortly before his death. In February, Mika told USA Today that she would not be surprised if a CIA employee had a hand in her husband's death
The torture and murder of US DEA agent Kiki Camarena made international headlines and led to pronounced tensions between the US and Mexico
Camarena was later portrayed in hit Netflix show Narcos, played by Michael Pena (pictured)
In February of this year, USA Today published a report claiming 'US Justice Department agents and prosecutors have obtained statements from the witnesses implicating a CIA operative and a DEA official in the plot to torture and murder Camarena'.
The statements allegedly came from three men who worked as security guards for Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo - a drug lord who was eventually convicted of ordering Camarena's death.
Gallardo, known as 'The Godfather', remains behind bars for his role in the murder.
Camarena's widow and the mother of his three sons, Mika, told USA Today that she would not be surprised if a CIA employee had a hand in her husband's death.
'I want the truth to be out. At this point, nothing would surprise me.'
Camarena's disappearance made worldwide headlines in February 1985, and sparked fury from the Reagan Administration
Mika Camarena is pictured meeting Ronald Reagan at the White House shortly after her husband's death
Camarena was abducted on February 7 1985, and his remains were discovered a month later following a massive manhunt.
Investigators later learned that he was brutally tortured for more than 30 hours. Camarena's captors beat and burned him, before using a power tool to drill into his skull. He was likely injected with drugs to ensure he remained conscious throughout the ordeal.
The search for Camarena's killers was 'the largest in DEA history' and, eventually, Gallardo was indicted for his role in the murder.
Two associates, Ernesto 'Don Neto' Fonseca and Rafael Caro Quintero, were also convicted.
But in 2013, Quintero was released from jail on a technicality, and is now on is now on the FBI's most-wanted list, with authorities offering a $20 million reward for his capture.
Meanwhile, alleged henchmen Rene Verdugo and Juan Matta-Ballesteros were also jailed for their involvement, before a judge disputed forensic evidence and threw out their convictions in 2017.
Camarena's case recently received renewed interest after it became the center of the new Netflix series Narcos: Mexico, with Michael Pena playing the lead role.
Camarena's case recently received renewed interest after it became the center of the new Netflix series Narcos: Mexico. Camarena is pictured left. Michael Pena is pictured playing the DEA Agent at right
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