Drug Capo

By Michael S. Vigil

The book is about transnational organized crime that import illegal drugs into the U.S. creating drug addiction and overdose deaths. It dissects the Mexican cartels which have grown in size and power. Some of them now operate in six of the seven continents and now pose a threat to the U.S. and other countries throughout the globe. It also discusses the role of corrupt politicians in protecting the interests of the cartels despite the violence they generate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781663256034

Michael S. Vigil

Michael S. Vigil, born and raised in Española, New Mexico, earned his degree in Criminology at New Mexico State University where he graduated with Honors. He later joined the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and became one of its most highly decorated agents. He served in thirteen foreign and domestic posts and rose through the ranks to the highest levels of the Senior Executive Service. He was the Special Agent in Charge of the Caribbean and San Diego Divisions. He further served as the Chief of International Operations in charge of all DEA offices worldwide. Mr. Vigil has received numerous awards during his elite career such as law enforcement’s most prestigious recognition: The National Association of Police Organization’s (NAPO) Top Cop award. This award is only given to ten law enforcement heroes each year from thousands of submissions nationwide. Many foreign governments have honored Mr. Vigil for his extraordinary and courageous efforts in the violent struggle against transnational organized crime. He is the only American to be made an Honorary General by the country of Afghanistan. China bestowed him with the “Key to the City of Shanghai.” The President of the Dominican Republic presented him with an Admiral’s sword at an International Drug Enforcement Conference. He is mentioned in over twenty-five books and appears on worldwide documentaries, and popular television programs such as Gangsters: America’s Most Evil, The Rise and Fall of El Chapo, Manhunt: Kill or Capture, and NETFLIX’S Drug Lords. He is a contributor to CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, Telemundo, Univision, Chinese Global Television, NPR, TRT, Al Jazeera, BBC, TV Azteca, El Financiero Bloomberg, FOX, NTN 24, Caracol Television, CNN Español, and dozens of internationally syndicated newspapers and radio stations. He is also a contributor to the highly regarded Cipher Brief. His highly acclaimed memoir, DEAL, was released in 2014. Metal Coffins: The Blood Alliance Cartel, Narco Queen, Land of Enchantment Cartel, Afghan Warlord, and the Rise of the Sicario are his five fiction novels. Many of the scenarios, however, are derived from his extensive experience as an undercover agent. He is the only American to have a corrido (ballad) made in his honor by Alberto Angel AKA El Cuervo, a famous recording artist and composer in Mexico. Mr. Vigil was responsible for the largest and most successful operations in the DEA’s history. The most significant one involved thirty-six countries in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and South America. After the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan, he designed and implemented Operation Containment consisting of twenty-five countries, to include the China and the Russia. Prior to this initiative, only a few kilograms of heroin were seized in the region. During the first year of Operation Containment over twenty-four tons were seized in this same region. The U.S. Congress continues to fund the highly successful initiative. He also developed regional intelligence centers allowing foreign countries to exchange information on transnational organized crime. The centers are now operational globally. Mr. Vigil was one of the most intrepid and legendary undercover agents in the history of the DEA. He successfully infiltrated some of the most violent and dangerous cartels in the world.

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Copyright © 2023 Michael S. Vigil.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-5604-1 (sc)

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-5603-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023917229

iUniverse rev. date:  09/15/2023

Contents

In Memoriam

Forewords

Dedication

Chapter 1     Born Into Poverty

Chapter 2     Winds Of Change

Chapter 3     The Birth

Chapter 4     Prison Time

Chapter 5     Illegal Drugs From South Of The Border

Chapter 6     Cartel Terror School

Chapter 7     Prison Riot

Chapter 8     Death Knell Of A Cartel

Chapter 9     Freedom And Mayhem

Chapter 10   The Fugitive

Chapter 11   Inside The Sinaloa Cartel

Chapter 12   The Specter Of A Cartel

About The Author

In Memoriam

"PART OF THE GREATEST GENERATION

WHOSE INDOMITABLE COURAGE

WAS THE VERY NATURE OF THEIR SOUL."

Samuel S. Vigil - Father

Bataan Death March Survivor

Prisoner of War - Osaka, Japan

Ramon B. Vigil - Uncle

Normandy Invasion

Battle of the Bulge, killed January 8, 1945 - Age 23

Jose M. Montoya - U.S. Army, 262nd Infantry

World War II

Eloy G. Romero - U.S. Army

World War II

Mike and Joe Parra - DEA

Two Brothers – Two Heroes

"WILLING TO MARCH INTO HELL

FOR A HEAVENLY CAUSE"

Forewords

Sally Denton, author of nine

books, including bestseller,

The Bluegrass Conspiracy.

John L. Smith is a freelance writer and author.

"I’m going to tell you the story of a very famous man

covered in glory who was born in Española, New Mexico."

Alberto El Cuervo Angel

From a key to the city of Shanghai, to an Admiral’s sword from the President of the Dominican Republic, to the King’s Robe from the Interior Minister of Afghanistan, Española native son Mike Vigil has received many honors during his legendary career with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

But even for the most decorated agent in the DEA’s history, this recognition is something special: A narcocorrido tribute from Alberto Angel, one of Mexico’s most famous recording artists not typically known for singing about the drug world. Such folk music ballads are almost exclusively reserved for the international drug lords Vigil pursued for more than three decades.

It all began in Española as a boy, when he watched the 1960s cop shows, such as Dragnet and the Untouchables. From that moment on, he knew exactly what career he aspired to. I developed a mindset that I wanted to be one of the premier law enforcement agents in the country. And I worked and did things that nobody else was willing to do to achieve that distinction, Vigil said. After receiving a criminal justice degree from New Mexico State University in 1973, he embarked on a career in the DEA, because, unlike other federal law enforcement agencies, it had a broader mandate that included both domestic and foreign jurisdictions.

My undercover work was at times without any backup from the host nation, or the DEA. I worked alone in the mountains, jungles, and the drug cartels’ strongholds negotiating directly with them. My life was at risk, but I was willing to do that because I believed in the ultimate goal of having an impact on the drug trade, and the intriguing game of cat-and-mouse fascinated me.

Larger cases followed, and at one point Vigil led a coalition of law enforcement and military entities from thirty-six nations called Operation Liberator—a level of cooperation that rivaled allegiances during World War II. That attack on drug trafficking among numerous organizations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and South America included what Vigil described as interdiction, eradication, precursor chemicals, search warrants, arrests, and long-term strategies.

It was a long way from home for the man whose parents, Samuel and Alice Vigil, were descended from several generations of Española natives. He has idyllic memories of the town where he was raised. When I was growing up there, it was a beautiful place to live. There was great harmony and respect among the different ethnic groups. It was New Mexico’s version of Mayberry, he said.

"His father was a great warrior in the second great war,

who was known as a brave man."

Courage runs in the family. Father Sam was a World War II veteran who survived the Bataan Death March and was held for more than three years in a Japanese prison camp. The recipient of a Bronze Star, he returned to Española after the war to raise his family.

In his more than thirty years with the DEA, Mike Vigil worked throughout the globe, including, Mexico City to South America, China, Europe, and the Middle East. He eventually rose to become Chief of International Operations responsible for all offices worldwide. But he always came back to Española every time he could take a vacation.

Over the years he noticed his hometown change. People were always very poor in Española, but our riches came from our heritage, our history, our culture, and the love for one another. It has always been a community of giving, of caring. We didn’t have the problems that we do now with drugs, with violence. There are so many good people in Española, but all you ever hear about are the criminals and drug dealers.

He began realizing that dark forces had started to penetrate the community because of illegal drugs and the devastation that it was creating in the beautiful Española Valley. One of the things that we know is drugs go hand in hand with violence. That is what drives a lot of the violence, not only in Española, but throughout New Mexico and the entire country."

His experience gives him an uncommon—and often controversial—perspective on drugs in America. I don’t call it the war on drugs. I call it a permanent campaign against drugs. It boils down to the basic law of economics: supply and demand. As long as there are consumers in America, there will be someone feeding the market.

Vigil is no fan of marijuana legalization, noting that the tax benefits remain uncertain, the collateral costs to society have yet to be fully calculated, and the potency of the new generation of marijuana is far greater than the pot of gold.

Vigil also maintains that America has a drug problem not just with the cartels, but also with the corporations. The scourge of opiate addiction that has killed thousands of Americans didn’t begin south of the border. El Chapo comes to criminal court in an orange jumpsuit and shackles, Vigil observes. A Big Pharma executive comes to civil court in a limousine and a three-piece suit.

"Now move aside, Mike Vigil has arrived, all of you criminals.

Miguel Vigil, Mike Vigil as he is known

He was admired, respected, honest, and brave.’

In retirement in his beloved New Mexico, Vigil keeps busy as a mentor to law enforcement, a consultant to major cable network drama series, and as an authoritative voice on national and international news programs and in publications. He writes narco thrillers, and one of his recently published books, The Land of Enchantment Cartel, is set in Rio Arriba County. His affection for the state, and especially its cuisine, shines through. I love my home state. I’m a very, very proud native son of New Mexico.

Who knows, maybe his next book will include a line from the corrido written and performed in his honor. I love that song. Of the many honors which I feel very fortunate in receiving, this is the one I’m most proud of.

Miguel Mendez

Mexican Attorney General’s Office

In my exceedingly long career with the Mexican Attorney General’s Office, I have known several brave men and women, many of whom sacrifieced their lives for the preservation of democracy and justice. They are nothing short of heroes. I have also known true and extremely rare legends who distinguished themselves from others with herculean deeds and heroic actions no one else was willing to undertake because of the dangers involved. These legendary figures took enormous risks, and did so, without trepidation or hesitation. Michael Vigil of the Drug Enforcement Administration was one of those unique individuals. Many compare him to James Bond, but actually he is much more fearless and has done what 007 would never have imagined. No comparison!

In an undercover capacity, he infiltrated some of the most sophisticated and murderous cartels in the world who have been responsible for the violent deaths of thousands of individuals each year. Making it more exceptional was that he did it without any protection.. The vast majority of the time, he operated alone. His great attributes were his intellect and ability to think quickly.

I remember many gunfights in which he came close to death, but within a few days, Michael was, once again, putting himself in extreme danger. In my entire career, I have never seen anyone equal his enormous courage. He did things that far exceeded the capabilities of other agents and always ran towards danger rather than away from it. Through it all, he never lost his composure.

While assigned to Mexico, he initiated and managed several complex operations with several other countries in Latin America. All of them proved highly successful because of his meticulous planning. Despite huge obstacles by naysayers, even in his own agency, he was undeterred and pushed through them with incredible toughness and fortitude. Michael accepted challenges as just another impediment to be dealt with. Something that had to be overcome and he always persevered.

During his assignment in Mexico City, he was responsible for a program that resulted in the seizure of over 250 tons of cocaine in four years. Unlike, most American agents who stayed far from the action, Michael was always out in front and took more risks than everyone else. This gained him the respect of our security forces and after decades his reputation has not diminished, but grown stronger. People, to this day, still talk about his heroism and many escapes from the clutches of almost certain death.

He created and designed multi-state operations involving the Mexican Federal Police and military that denied penetration to these areas by the violent cartels. Michael was a master strategist who never left anything to chance. Carlos Salinas de Gortari, then president of Mexico, was so impressed by these operations that he offered them to other governors around the country.

Michael created huge operations involving 36 countries that no one has ever been able to duplicate. He was a true force of nature and many try to compare themselves with him, but that is an impossibility. They just don’t have the requisite skills necessary to plan and bring countries together with a common objective. We recognize that there will only be one Michael Vigil who will go into the annals of history as a true legend.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the loving memory of my parents, Sam and Alice, whose sacrifice, support and love made me the person I am today.

It is also dedicated to my sisters, Anita and Mona.

To my niece, Ursula, who is my bright shining star.

To Nicole who is in heaven with my parents.

To my stepdaughter, Lisa, and my grandchildren, Luke Edward and Sarah Claire.

To my wife, Suzanne, for the stunning book cover.

To my friends, Alvan Romero and Lillie Montoya, for their invaluable assistance in editing this book.

1

Born Into Poverty

The swirling dark chocolate-colored waters of the Rio Grande sliced through the middle of a small village known as Española, located in northern New Mexico, between Santa Fe and Taos. Española had not prospered much as a small railroad community, nor had grown in size with the passage of time. Before the establishment of the railroad, it was referred to as La Vega de Los Vigiles (Vigil’s Meadow). Most inhabitants were poor, but since they had never been exposed to the concept of wealth it was more foreign to them than being on another planet. They were of the naive opinion that everyone lived in the same social strata. What they couldn’t appreciate, however, was that history, culture, and most importantly family values made them rich beyond the almighty dollar. The men toiled from dusk to dawn in low paying jobs and the women took care of their families, cooking meals, cleaning house, and making sure the kids got off to school. It was a simple life, but relatively free of crime.

On the westside of Española, considered to be the poorest area, a beautiful young girl with olive skin, hazel eyes, and long black hair lived with her parents in a small two-bedroom house made of crumbling adobe. Her name was Norma Sanchez, an only child, who constantly dreamed of having a Cinderella life like the ones she read about in fairy tales. She prayed each night for a handsome prince to appear on a white horse and take her to his beautiful castle where she would live like a princess. Norma attended Española High School wearing her mother’s old clothes, which were badly torn and tattered. She was often ridiculed by her classmates for wearing such outdated garments. Being a senior and about to graduate, Norma knew her options were very limited since her father, a farm worker, could barely afford to put food on the table. Attending college was simply out of her realm of possibilities. Norma was highly intelligent and had an engaging personality. Her parents, Adan and Sarah, hoped she would find a decent man to marry and have a happy life. Her mother, a pious and religious woman, prayed every Sunday at church for God to help her only daughter. She understood the village had slim pickings because most men, when they came of age, left the area in search of better paying jobs.

In the evenings, Norma studied and read books borrowed from the modest library about three miles from her house. Reading was the only source of entertainment since her parents were not able to even afford a black and white television. She especially liked the short stories written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the famed Colombian novelist. She was also fascinated with books on world history. While reading them, Norma would pretend vacationing in exotic countries, sampling their cuisine and shopping for nice clothes. It would give her great joy, even if it was only a temporary fantasy.

In school, Norma excelled in math. Most of her classmates hated the subject, but she soaked it up like a sponge. Even her crusty, cynical math teacher was impressed, and at times tutored her during lunch breaks. On weekends, she would take long walks along the Rio Grande and throw rocks into the rushing waters. Once in a great while, her father would give her a quarter to go to the El Rio Theater to see a double feature. Usually, they consisted of horror movies of vampires or werewolves who preyed on unsuspecting people in the darkest of nights. Traumatized, Norma would run home as fast as she could, hide under the covers, and not peek out until the following morning.

Norma was blossoming into a woman, and still did not have a lot of friends. She was naïve in many ways because of her lack of exposure to the world. Her entire universe was limited to a one-hundred mile radius of the surrounding area. It had its benefits as she was not exposed to the violence occurring in larger cities across the country. At least not yet!

Norma’s grade point average was high enough to qualify for a college scholarship, but the counselors at her school were pretty much useless and rarely met with students to advise them of educational opportunities. She, like so many others, became victims of the mediocrity of those officials whose sole job was to assist them. Very rapidly, her senior year was coming to an end with graduation looming in the immediate future. Norma, wanting to help her family financially, began applying for local jobs. Every afternoon, she would scan the small weekly newspaper that people primarily read to see who had died or been arrested. It was a major source of entertainment and provided ammunition for many to gossip about each other.

One weekend, black ominous clouds rolled in and blanketed the skies over the Española Valley, which unleashed a thunderous lightning storm and torrential downpour. Norma was lying in bed with her mother who would take the time to tell her stories since she was a little girl. The mother told Norma about a tormented spirit known as La Llorona, the weeping woman who, on occasion, could be seen walking along the banks of the Rio Grande. She was looking for her children whom she had intentionally drowned due to her madness. Her misdeeds had left her spirit trapped in perpetuity on earth where she haunted innocent children. Norma hugged her pillow tightly as she became more frightened. She was shaking while her mother smiled and continued with the story that was part of the state’s legendary folklore. Sarah told Norma that several years ago a group of children were playing near the Rio Grande, in the late evening, when suddenly a woman crying hysterically could be heard nearby. Terrified, the youngsters saw the glowing figure of a woman wearing a long wispy dress coming toward them and floating a few feet above the ground. She called to them in an incoherent shriek. Frightened, the children bolted across the rivers long bridge and ran into a busy restaurant screaming in sheer panic. Sarah commented that La Llorona preyed on children believing they were hers and took them to the spirit world where she lived. Norma could not sleep the entire night. She vowed never to be near the river again at night. Maybe not even during the day.

After several years of saving a dollar here and there, Adan went to Barbie Auto Dealership located on the southern outskirts of the village and purchased an old turquoise colored Chevrolet Bel Air. It had over a hundred-thousand miles, but was still operational with the help of baling wire and rusted nuts and bolts.

A week later, Adan took Sarah and Norma for a drive to Santa Fe, the state capital of New Mexico. Although only twenty-four miles south of Española, it seemed to Norma like it was on the other side of the earth. They had lunch at a very small, inexpensive Chinese restaurant. Never having had any ethnic cuisine other than simple Mexican food such as tortillas, beans, and sporadically chicken tacos it was a little intimidating. To order from the menu written in Chinese they pointed at the photos on the menu, which seemed appetizing. The waiter dressed in a white shirt and black bowtie soon appeared with heaping dishes of fried rice, kung pao chicken, and a few egg rolls. Norma barely