Chapter One

I started working for the Drug Enforcement Administration this morning, walking my way into the DEA Los Angeles Division in California. I met with a DEA Special Agent in Charge named Rachel Squads, who has been a part of the Drug Enforcement Administration since 1995.

"Harrison, you understand the DEA has a lot of potential to make the world a better place. I hope you're able to do your job well. As an DEA agent, you will require a lot of hard labor to stop the illegal drug trafficking operations that happen daily in this city," says Rachel.

"I will, Mrs. Squads. I will not let you down," I said.

"Wonderful. So this is a very serious matter. You're a DEA agent. Your job is to protect this country, unlike any other DEA agent in these headquarters," says Mrs. Squads.

"I understand, Mrs. Rachel," I answered once again.

Mrs. Squads nods her head. Until on my first day on the job, I was partnered with an FBI agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Los Angeles to stop a drug trafficking operation involving a young man named Jose Alvarez, forty-five years old to whom is operating a Mexican-based organization.

"Hi Harrison, I see it's your first day as a DEA agent. I'm Special Agent Peter Saw from the FBI in Los Angeles. You and I are to discuss a case together," says Peter.

"Okay. So Jose Alvarez. runs consecutive to the life sentence for being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise – the Mexican organized crime syndicate known as the Sinaloa Cartel – a charge that includes 26 drug-related violations and one murder conspiracy," I said.

"Yes" answered Peter.

"So, Jose Alvarez was raised in the poor and isolated Badiraguato municipality in northwest Mexico's Sinaloa state, which was the origin of some infamous drug traffickers. He joined the Guadalajara drug cartel, which was led by Ricardo Diego, in the 1980s to start his criminal career. Alvarez advanced up the organization's ranks quite quickly. He rose to prominence in the Sinaloa cartel after it broke up in the late 1980s. He oversaw the development of innovative smuggling tactics by the Sinaloa cartel, such as constructing air-conditioned tunnels beneath the Mexico-U.S. border, concealing drugs in fire extinguishers and chili pepper cans, and launching drugs across the border. His group manufactured and trafficked a variety of illegal substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana," says Peter.

I sighed. "So this guy sounds like a drug leader who knows their way around," I said to Peter.

"Does his wife know her husband is a drug dealer?" I wondered, looking at Peter.

"I bet she doesn't, and Jose had escaped federal prison, he's back to committing his crimes again," answered Peter.

15 billion is spent by the US Drug Enforcement Agency on drug-related investigations. Similar drug offenses cost state and municipal police over $25 billion to investigate. An estimated $500 is spent per second on drug crime investigations in the United States, out of $40 billion. To combat drug offenses both and abroad, the DEA works with the FBI, CIA, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

Mexican DTOs are the greatest drug trafficking threat to the United States; they control most of the U.S. drug market and have established varied transportation routes, advanced communications capabilities, and strong affiliations with gangs in the United States.

In several U.S. drug marketplaces, Asian DTOs control a significant amount of the wholesale and retail distribution of MDMA and high-potency marijuana. National-level wholesale drug trafficking involves Italian criminal organizations and DTOs from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia. Though not as much as Asian and Mexican DTOs, these groups represent a significant domestic threat.

"Well, I guess we know what to do," I said.

"Harrison, you know that this requires integrity and lots of potential. If you can do this, I do not see how you cannot be a good DEA agent," says Peter.

"Agent Saw, I've been wanting to do this forever. I want to do this. So, I will investigate. I guess keep me updated if you find anything more about Mr. Alvarez," I answered Peter.

Peter nodded his head. "Sure. It's good to meet you Harrison," says Peter, before turning around and walking away. The next thing I knew, I had gone to the DEA agents, and we all began working together on the Jose Alvarez case.

The DEA uses laboratory testing and forensic analysis to identify and measure restricted substances. Defense teams must comprehend the procedures and conclusions of forensic studies and, if required, contest them because the results serve as the foundation for criminal charges.

The next day, DEA agent Harrison Lawrence and FBI agent Peter saw they were starting off the investigation by understanding more about the case.

"So, this guy is a kingpin. He trafficked illegal drugs from Mexico and took them to California," I said to Peter.

"And so far as well in the investigation, Jose also had hired fifteen people to serve and work for him," I said.

"Let's see. He had also been charged (years ago) with money laundering, but escaped federal prison and was never to be seen ever again," I said to Peter, once more.

"This drug trafficking organization is one of the worst rings in the USA. This guy is a criminal but a severely dangerous criminal who knows that he's ever gonna be caught again and now he's a drug trafficker transferring illegal drugs to the United States from Mexico and being the leader of an operation," says Peter.

Therefore, I cleared my throat. Also, I nod my head. Afterwards, I thought for a minute. "This is a most profiling drug operation in California," says Peter, once again.

"He runs a drug trafficking organization that is dangerous, and he is looking at a life sentence and possibly 30 more years," I said to Peter.

"Agent Lawrence, has your team found any other evidence of the existence of the alleged crime?," wondered Peter.

"Yeah. Unfortunately, one of my teams said that Mr. Alvarez had another one of their workers transfer more cocaine, ten liters of it," I explained.

Agent Peter sighed. "Okay, so we have to track down this guy, and quickly. He could sell these drugs to people," says Peter.

"I don't know, but something tells me that this guy has a lot of ways to get what he wants," I said.

"I guess we can just keep tracking him down. Let's hope to find more information on this guy," says Peter. I nod my head. Peter and I went to talk to my team and other DEA agents to have more information on the case. I was so far enjoying my work.