Enrique camarena biography red ribbon week

Annual drug awareness campaign in the U.S.

Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco, smoking, and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October in the United States. It began as a tribute to fallen DEA special agent Enrique Camerena in 1985.

According to the United States DEA, Red Ribbon Week is the nation's largest and longest-running drug awareness and prevention program.^[1]

History

Red Ribbon Week began after the kidnapping, torture, harassment, and murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985.^[2] Camarena had been working undercover for Guadalajara, Mexico for over four years.

His efforts led to a tip that resulted in the discovery of a multimillion-dollar marijuana manufacturing operation in Chihuahua, Mexico.^[2][3] Corrupt politicians working for drug traffickers kidnapped Camarena and his pilot, Captain Alfredo Zavala-Avelar (taken separately on the same day).

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“Kiki” Camarena… The beginning of “Red Ribbon Week” HUTEH