In Today's episode of "Moment of Truth," Saurabh sits down with Victor Avila, Supervisory Special Agent (Ret.) at Immigration & Customs Enforcement, to discuss the real nature of Mexico's violent drug cartels, how the cartels expanded operations beyond narcotics into all illicit activities such as human trafficking, extortion, assassinations, and more, their physical control of nearly 40% of the nation of Mexico, plus their attempt on Victor's life for speaking out and fighting for peace and justice.
Mr. Victor Avila is a retired Supervisory Special Agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ICE-HSI is responsible for investigating crimes pertaining to immigration, trade, customs, and border security that threaten the security of the American Homeland. While serving with ICE-HSI, Victor personally led criminal investigations of human traffickers, drug smugglers, and violent criminals. During his time with ICE-HSI, Victor also served as an accredited diplomat to Mexico, Spain, and Portugal. Victor advised these governments on complex and wide-ranging criminal investigations. While on official assignment in Mexico, Special Agent Avila suffered multiple gunshot wounds and survived a violent ambush by the Mexican Los Zetas drug cartel where Special Agent Jaime Zapata tragically lost his life.
Mr. Avila began his law enforcement career as a United States Probation Officer for the U.S. Courts and as a District Parole Officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at El Paso while focusing on the identity of Hispanic Americans along the border.
