When Dora Camarena was on her deathbed in 2021, her last wish was to see justice served. She wanted to live long enough to witness the Mexican drug cartel that killed her son pay for its crimes.
A Mother’s Dying Wish for Justice
Now, nearly 40 years after his brutal killing, the family of DEA special agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena is taking legal action. His widow, Geneva “Mika” Camarena, along with their sons and other family members, have filed a lawsuit in a U.S. federal court. Their target is the infamous Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in Mexico.
The lawsuit seeks financial compensation from key cartel figures, holding them responsible for the immense suffering the family has endured. They are relying on a U.S. policy that classifies certain drug cartels as terrorist organizations, making it possible for victims to take legal action in American courts.
“For decades, we have carried the pain of his loss, but also his courage,” said Kiki Camarena’s sister, Myrna Camarena. “Justice is long overdue, and we will not stop until it is served.”
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A Crime That Shook the World
On February 7, 1985, Kiki Camarena was working undercover in Guadalajara, Mexico. He had spent years gathering intelligence on drug trafficking networks, tracking their operations, and trying to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
But the cartels saw him as a threat.
That day, cartel members kidnapped him in broad daylight. They held him hostage, torturing him for hours to extract information about DEA operations. Finally, they killed him and buried his body on a ranch in Mexico. His pilot, Alfredo Zavala-Avelar, was also kidnapped and murdered.
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Nearly a month later, authorities discovered Camarena’s body. The details of his death sent shockwaves through the U.S. and Mexican governments. It was clear that the drug cartels were willing to go to extreme lengths to protect their illegal empire.
In response, a major investigation was launched. Several cartel leaders, including Rafael Caro-Quintero and Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, were arrested and convicted. However, Caro-Quintero was released on a legal technicality in 2013. His release sparked outrage, and after years on the run, he was recaptured in 2022. In 2025, he was extradited to the United States, where he now faces trial for his crimes.
Despite these arrests, the Camarena family continued to suffer. The loss of their loved one left a lasting impact, with emotional scars that have never fully healed.
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“Today, as an adult, Erik continues to struggle. He’s unable to watch violent movies and television shows without them triggering an emotional response and the question, ‘Is this what happened to my father?’” the lawsuit states.
A Historic Legal Battle Against Cartels
The Camarena family’s lawsuit argues that the cartel’s actions were acts of international terrorism. Under a policy established by the Trump administration, drug cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel are classified as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. This designation allows victims to seek justice through U.S. courts.
The Sinaloa Cartel has long been a major supplier of illegal drugs in the United States. According to a 2022 Congressional Research Service report, it is responsible for trafficking massive amounts of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. These drugs have fueled addiction, crime, and violence across the U.S.
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The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Southern District of California, lists multiple cartel leaders as defendants, including Caro-Quintero. The family is represented by the law firm Motley Rice LLC, which has also worked on legal cases for families of 9/11 victims.
“This family’s hope for a safer, more just world – the world Kiki Camarena fought for – has been renewed. We look forward to continuing this fight in his honor in court,” said Michael E. Elsner, an anti-terrorism attorney with Motley Rice.
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For the Camarena family, this lawsuit is not just about financial compensation. It is about holding those responsible accountable for a crime that changed their lives forever. This legal battle could also set a precedent for other American families affected by cartel violence, giving them a path to seek justice in U.S. courts.
