1. RED RIBBON WEEK
21 – 27 OCTOBER 2012

2. Enrique “Kiki” Camarena
Marine

3. Enrique “Kiki” Camarena
Drug Enforcement Agent

4. His Beginnings Born on July 26, 1947 Raised in a dirt-floor house
in Mexicali, Mexico.
Raised in a dirt-floor house
Had hopes and dreams of making a difference. 

5. His Education
Graduated from Calexico High School in Calexico, California in 1966 

6. His Professions 1968 - Joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
serving for two years,
Joined the Calexico Police Department
Criminal Investigator
May joined the El Centro Police Department.
Narcotics Investigator

7. His Philosophy
"I can't not do this," he told his mother when she contested his decision to join the DEA.
"I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference." 

8. His Final Assignment
Undercover in Guadalajara Mexico
Investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government.
For 4 1/2 years he remained on the trail of the country's biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers.
And in early 1985, he was extremely close to unlocking a multi-billon dollar drug pipeline.

9. His Kidnapping
February 7, Before he was able to expose the drug trafficking operations to the public, he was kidnapped.
On that fateful day, while headed to a luncheon with his wife, Mika, Special Agent Camarena was surrounded by 5 armed men who threw him into a car and sped away.
That was the last time anyone but his kidnappers would see him alive.

11. His Demise
One month later, Camarena's body was found in a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death. 

12. His Funeral

13. “Camarena Clubs”
High school friend Henry Lozano launched Camarena Clubs in Kiki's hometown of Calexico, California.
Hundreds of club members including Calexico High School teacher David Dhillon wore red ribbons and pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifices made by Kiki Camarena and others on behalf of all Americans.

14. His Decorations During his 11 years with DEA, Agent Camarena received
2 Sustained Superior Performance Awards,
a Special Achievement Award and,
Posthumously, the Administrator’s Award of Honor - the highest award granted by DEA.

15. In His Honor
In honor of Agent Camarena's memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin.
Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions.
Some of these new coalitions adopted Agent Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference.

16. The Red Ribbon. The Symbol
These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Agent Camarena's memory
The Red Ribbon. 

17. The 1st Red Ribbon Campaign
The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign in Sacramento, CA.
Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children.

18. In Texas
In 1997, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse began committing resources to ensure the continuation of the Red Ribbon Campaign in Texas, as well as the hopes and beliefs behind this grassroots effort to protect children from the dangers of alcohol and other drugs. 

19. Red Ribbon Week Nationally recognized and celebrated
Preserves the memory of Special Agent Camarena
Symbol of support for the DEA’s effort to reduce the demand for drugs through prevention and education

20. What Time is It?
It’s a time to show gratitude for all the lives that remain drug free
It’s a time to pledge to live a safe and drug-free life
It’s a time to remember those we have lost in the fight against drugs