Panama City – 1990   By February, things had calmed down significantly in Panama following the U.S. invasion , with most people back to work and resuming their everyday lives. As I was driving into the embassy one morning in my rental vehicle, I suddenly saw a taxi pull up next to me with a… Continue reading Never Pay a Police Officer

    In addition to being held-up with my wife at a restaurant in Argentina, I have only been held up one other time in my life in Lima, Peru.   I was invited to a friend’s birthday gathering back in Lima, so I stopped by the commissary at the U.S. Embassy and purchased a… Continue reading The day my life was worth only $40

Insurance fraud is a pervasive issue worldwide, but recent trends indicate a notable increase in fraudulent insurance claims filed by travelers in Latin America. This region, known for its vibrant culture and scenic destinations, has unfortunately become a hotspot for such deceptive activities. The complexities of international travel, coupled with the unique socio-economic conditions of… Continue reading Fraudulent Insurance Claims Filed by Travelers in Latin America: An Emerging Challenge

I learned to drive in Mexico City in 1979. At the time, I was 17 years of age and in high school in Mexico. Unlike in the U.S., driver’s education is not taught in high school in Mexico, or anywhere else in Latin America that I am aware of, for that matter. So, my parents… Continue reading Learning to Drive

While stationed at the El Paso Intelligence Center, I was assigned to the Tactical Support Unit which was involved in intercepting radio communication between traffickers in both Colombia and Peru. At the time, cellular telephones had only been out a short while and coverage was sporadic, especially in rural areas. Satellite phones were also very… Continue reading Never Underestimate your Opponent

  After completing the administrative on-boarding, and while awaiting to head off to DEA’s Basic Agent Training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, I was assigned to the Denver Field Division’s Group 2.    Group 2 consisted of 8 agents all involved in conducting major investigations against primarily cocaine and methamphetamine organizations. Like most… Continue reading First Weeks on the Job

I never liked to play games and had no tolerance for anyone playing games with me.   During my last year at college, I went to a job fair on campus and was recruited by one of the U.S. government’s 3-letter intelligence agencies. They were interested in me mostly for my language ability and the… Continue reading The Polygraph Test

I’ve met many a person whose life peaked during high school. They fondly remember their time as a star athlete, as a cheerleader, as class president or prom queen. They’ll regale you with story upon story of how much fun they had, how every moment was great, and how they wished that it had never… Continue reading HIGH SCHOOL – MEXICO CITY

Venezuela – 1976   The 1960’s and 1970’s were arguably the heyday of the boy scouts. Growing up during that time period, I jumped head first into the cub scouts in Argentina, and later to the boy scouts in Venezuela. While I question my enthusiasm in hindsight, at the time, it was a big part… Continue reading The Boy Scout

Back in 1987 at the DEA Denver Field Division, there was a great mix of both young agents with a lot of spunk and senior agents who had been around the block enough to keep the younger guys out of trouble. Some of the guys were former state and local law enforcement, while others were… Continue reading Lessons from my first year with the DEA