Chapter Two: [Edited]
Chapter Two
I waited with Peter inside the car. We were both watching the suspect, Jose Alvaerez, spying on Alvarez. Harrison was using his binoculars watching Jose's every move and Jose was transferring more cocaine and other illegal drugs through a semi truck into California.
While Jose's workers talked to him and one drove a commercial truck, Peter sat beside me, watching Jose smuggle drugs in another one. "Well, at least we know where they drive their commercial vehicles to," says Peter. I put down my binoculars and sighed.
"Jose Alvarez, a leader, smuggles drugs to California, believing he's acting legally," I stated.
Peter uses his laptop (while sitting in the car) to look up any browsing history where Jose had driven to Mexico, which took two days to get to Sinaloa, a drug-rich Mexican state. Jose greeted a worker with a handshake before heading back to his vehicle.
After Jose got in his vehicle, he immediately drove off and didn't see me or Peter spying on him.
"Agent Lawrence, were you sure to put a surveillance camera inside one of the commercial trucks?" wondered Peter.
"Believe me. I did. I am also be sure to put a surveillance camera in Mr. Alvadez's car.
"We could discover who else he's collaborating with in California to traffic these drugs," I told Peter. Peter could tell I was nervous. I swallowed nervously.
"Hey. Agent Lawrence," says Peter.
I looked at Peter.
"Do not be nervous. A DEA agent's career is going to be challenging. But I know you can do this," says Peter.
I took a deep breath and said, "yeah." I pulled my gear in drive and went to follow Alvarez to where else he was possibly smuggling the drugs.
At the DEA headquarters in Los Angeles, Peter informed me that Alvarez had escaped to Jalisco, Mexico, and within weeks of his arrival, had established connections with drug traffickers from Mexico and the United States, affiliated with the Sinaloa and CJNG cartels, before returning to California.
"So with the surveillance video showing that Alvarez has been working at a commercial truck factory with his workers who help him transfer illegal drugs. Alvarez is laughing about speaking solely Spanish and English by telling them how he is making this world a better place," I explained to Peter.
"But listen to this. I found out that Alvarez has been talking to someone through another surveillance video where I put a camera in Alvarez's car and the video shows that Alvarez is telling his wife after arriving at home that he's been busy with something that he doesn't want to tell his wife, Amelia Alvarez. She is worried about her husband, and you can tell he is angry and lying to her about the fact he drove to Mexico just to visit what he says, an old friend. I explained to Peter.
"And his wife has no clue whatsoever of what Jose is doing," says Peter.
I cleared my throat. "He is also distributing and engaging in methamphetamine. He also was selling meth at various hotels," I explained.
"Very good, agent Lawrence," says Peter. I nod my head.
"Agent Lawrence, I hope you know our top priority is to stop the operation that defeats the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels from having drug dealers to transfer any fentanyl and methamphetamine to the United States. Do you think this guy will beat the odds?" wondered Peter.
I nod my head no. The agency is the most important federal group fights drug crimes in the country. It's a modern group of people who are dedicated to protecting our country from drug use and dealing. DEA operates 93 overseas offices in 69 countries, besides 241 domestic offices spread throughout 23 divisions in the United States.
By looking into and punishing those who manufacture, distribute, or grow drugs in the United States and those who import narcotics from other nations, the DEA upholds the nation's federal drug laws. DEA also pursues drug-related money that traffickers attempt to conceal and finds people who "divert" narcotics from the legitimate market, primarily prescription medications.
"This is a major group operating in Mexico. He could kill more Americans," I explained.
"So we should talk to the US Customs Border Patrol. Maybe they may know more about Jose Alvarez. I had to put on a wiretap. I can also use a wiretap to expose a drug trafficking operation. So I had to listen to a phone conversation between suspected drug traffickers. For many years, DEA wiretaps have been effective in gathering comprehensive data, frequently without the callers' knowledge.
The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, many amendments, and other laws provide citizens with certain safeguards. DEA agents like myself can use wiretaps to monitor and record conversations on a suspect's phone, but only with a court order.
A judge must issue a warrant to listen to someone's phone calls lawfully as part of an investigation, usually for serious drug trafficking cases. DEA agents, once again like myself, must get a court order (known as a wiretap) in order to listen to a phone conversation and gather evidence to support their investigation when they suspect that the conversation is related to illegal drug activity.
Peter and I were tracking the conversation between Jose and one of his workers named Hernandez Javiar, a Mexican-American drug trafficker about how Jose told Hernandez that he should switch people's prescriptions to the illegal drugs Jose had taken to California.
"Mr. Alvarez is majoring in a huge drug bust," I said once again.
Peter sighs and he clears his throat. The drug investigators use pole cameras to monitor suspects coming and going from their homes and their work, and other important locations. There are also GPS trackers to show where a suspect goes through day and night.
"Okay, so the last time Alvarez was last seen was at his apartment last night before we saw him talking to one of his workers while another worker was driving a commercial truck," says Peter.
In order to facilitate their operations, traffickers in Mexico usually reach out to members of the established drug cartels, such as high-ranking cartel leaders, mid-level distributors, local suppliers, dishonest government officials, armed guards, and occasionally even those in charge of drug logistics and transportation.
When Peter and I were discussing the case, Peter and I found out that Jose had lost his job after working twenty-five years as an attorney. He lost his job because of being fired, because he came to work drunk one morning.
"So, Alvarez had also lost his job because he came to work hungover. His wife must have been really upset, and this was after he escaped from prison and decides to become a lawyer. But unfortunately he decides to commit crimes again," says Peter.
"And what if he joined this drug cartel to think he could get away with it. Maybe he is doing this because wanted to work again," I explained.
"So you think that Alvarez is a kingpin because he misses his job?" says Peter.
"It's possible," I answered back.
"I don't see how that can be a reason why. People don't become drug traffickers because they lost their job. They are just bad people trying to kill Americans, thinking they're committing a legal act against the people of the United States," says Peter.
I sighed. "Addiction, maybe?" I said.
"What?" says Peter.
"This guy certainly has an addiction transferring drugs to California. I mean, last time I read the reports, he had been doing this for months," I explained.
Peter takes a deep breath. He slowly exhales his breath. "Addiction yes, maybe. But because of losing his job, no," says Peter.
Peter was interrupted to speak with another DEA agent. As Peter walked past me, I just stood there, thinking. I sighed. The next thing I knew, I was headed to a press conference. Peter has gone with me.
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