DEA Makes Red Ribbon Stop in Murrieta

The DEA swarmed a school Friday in Murrieta with unmarked cars, a helicopter and a CHP K-9 unit, but they weren't looking for any bad guys.

Rather, the special agents, assisted by the U.S. Border Patrol, turned up at to share the significance of Red Ribbon Week, which the school is celebrating beginning Monday.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Riverside District Office, is visiting 18 schools in Riverside County this month to help share the story of fallen brother and DEA Special Agent, Enrique "KiKi" Camarena.

"We love this time of year; it is busy but we love it," said Special Agent Sarah Pullen.

The students listened while DEA agents explained what happened to Camarena. They learned that he grew up in Calexico, Calif., and was a decorated 11-year veteran DEA agent.

In 1985, he had been on the trail of a multi-million dollar drug pipeline in Mexico for more than four years. He was kidnapped Feb. 7 of that year while heading to have lunch with his wife; his body was found about a month later.

At 37 years old, Camarena was killed while fighting the war on drugs, the students learned.

A club at his alma mater, Calexico High School, was formed shortly thereafter. Members wore red ribbons and pledged to be drug-free. The movement caught on, and Red Ribbon Week became official in 1988 with the help of President Ronald Reagan and his wife, First Lady Nancy Reagan.

The DEA continues its involvement in Red Ribbon Week by doing countless assemblies and functions during October, throughout the nation.

"We are here so we can come together as a school family and let you know there are people and adults who can help you say no," a special agent told students Friday.

Several schools in Murrieta have already begun commemorating Red Ribbon Week, with the national, eight-day observance taking place Oct. 23-31.

Kim Pedersen, Rail Ranch PTA, was charged with organizing Red Ribbon Week events for the school.

"We've had other law enforcement in the past, but the DEA, this is their focus. They can share that with the kids," Pedersen said. "I don't know if many of the kids even knew the story.

"They were the right people to get here to do it."