- Former DEA deputy chief arrested for conspiring with a violent Mexican cartel.
- He is accused of laundering millions and facilitating cocaine sales.
- The case stems from an extensive undercover sting operation.
- He allegedly used his DEA expertise to advise on drugs and weapons.
- The charges include narcoterrorism and could bring life imprisonment.
A shocking arrest has exposed a disturbing breach of public trust, revealing how a former top official tasked with fighting drug cartels allegedly switched sides to empower them. Paul Campo, a 25-year veteran of the Drug Enforcement Administration who rose to deputy chief of its Office of Financial Operations, was arrested last week alongside associate Robert Sensi. Federal prosecutors allege the pair conspired to launder $12 million for Mexico’s violent Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and facilitate cocaine sales in New York City. This case, emerging from a lengthy undercover operation, raises grave questions about institutional corruption and the revolving door between law enforcement and the criminal networks they are supposed to dismantle.
Campo, who retired in 2016 after a career that spanned the Obama administration, is charged with narcoterrorism conspiracy, money laundering, and drug trafficking. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Campo and Sensi were ensnared by a confidential source posing as a cartel member, beginning in late 2024.
Betrayal of the badge
The allegations paint a picture of a man leveraging his extensive government expertise for criminal profit. “Campo betrayed the mission he was entrusted with pursuing for his 25-year career with the DEA,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton and DEA Administrator Terrance Cole in a joint statement. The criminal complaint alleges Sensi promised the undercover source that Campo’s inside knowledge of DEA operations would be invaluable to the cartel.
During meetings, the duo allegedly offered advice on fentanyl production and procuring military-grade weapons and commercial drones for CJNG, a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department. They also discussed methods to move illicit funds, including converting cash to cryptocurrency and investing in real estate.
The mechanics of a sting
The undercover operation detailed in court documents shows the men allegedly moving quickly from talk to action. Prosecutors say they laundered $750,000 they believed were cartel proceeds, which was actually government money. In a recorded meeting at a New York restaurant in March, Campo allegedly even flashed his old DEA badge to the undercover source.
By October, the operation escalated to a drug deal. The indictment alleges Campo and Sensi agreed to use cryptocurrency to purchase 220 kilograms of cocaine for $5 million, expecting a 30% profit. They transferred $200,000 to a digital wallet they believed belonged to a drug seller, but which was controlled by the Internal Revenue Service. After the transfer, the undercover source sent an encrypted message stating, “Wow brothers!! Taking possession of the product NOW!!!.”
Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges. They are currently detained and could face life imprisonment if convicted on the narcoterrorism charge. The DEA has emphasized that the alleged conduct occurred after Campo’s retirement and was unrelated to his official duties. “We will not look the other way simply because someone once wore this badge,” Administrator Cole stated.
This case forces an uncomfortable examination of how deep institutional rot can go. It echoes past scandals where the very agencies created to protect the public have been implicated in arming and empowering criminal enterprises. The fact that a senior official from the DEA’s financial crimes unit is accused of using that expertise for a cartel is a profound betrayal.
For citizens already skeptical of federal agencies, this incident serves as a validation of their concerns. It underscores a pattern where the guardians of the system too often become its most dangerous exploiters. Campo's alleged betrayal proves that the most dangerous criminal conspiracies aren't always born in cartel safe houses... sometimes they emerge from the offices meant to shut them down.
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