The Threat to the U.S.

By Michael Vigil

Mike Vigil is the former Chief of International Operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration. He is one of the most highly decorated agents within the agency and was responsible for numerous multi-national operations, the largest involved 36 countries. He was also responsible for developing global intelligence sharing platforms. He is the author of DEAL and Metal Coffins: The Blood Alliance Cartel and Narco Queen.  He is also the author of The Land of Enchantment Cartel.  Vigil was made an honorary General by the government of Afghanistan and given the key to the city of Shanghai by China. He was also given an Admiral’s sword by the former president of the Dominican Republic, Hipolito Mejia.

With over 30 years working as a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent, Michael Vigil has an extensive understanding of illicit trafficking networks.  The former DEA Chief of International Operations shared with The Cipher Brief how drug trafficking in Latin America must be addressed–or risk being a destabilizing force for Latin American and the U.S.

The Cipher Brief: Although illicit networks are global phenomena, Latin America seems to be a particular hotbed for organized criminal groups.  Where in Latin America are the groups most prevalent?  What has allowed them to emerge at such a large rate? 

“The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for former intelligence officers; no media outlet is even a close second to The Cipher Brief in terms of the number of articles published by formers.” —Sept. 2018, Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 62

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