News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2002

NATIONAL RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN 2002
Public Welcomed to Visit the DEA Booth at Plaza Las Americas
DEA News Conference to be Held at Plaza Las Americas on Monday

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The National Red Ribbon Campaign will be celebrated across the nation, October 23 - 31 this year. The Red Ribbon Campaign began after torture and brutal the murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique Camarena by drug traffickers in Mexico. Within weeks of his death in March of 1985, Duncan Hunter, Camarena's Congressman, and high school friend Henry Lozano, launched Camarena Clubs in Camarena's home, Imperial Valley, California. In 1988, the National Federation of Parents, now known as the National Family Partnership, organized the first National Red Ribbon Week, an eight-day event proclaimed by the U.S. Congress and chaired by then President and Mrs. Reagan. Today events take place in every state marking Red Ribbon Week.

Today, Red Ribbon Week is celebrated nationally, helping to preserve Special Agent Camarena's memory and further the cause for which he gave his life, the fight against the violence of drug crime, and the misery of addiction. By gathering together in special events and wearing a red ribbon during the last week in October, Americans from all walks of life demonstrate their opposition to drugs. Mr. Jerome Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Caribbean Division invites the Puerto Rico community to join the DEA in celebrating the National Red Ribbon Week. DEA Special Agent in Charge Harris and Plaza Las Americas General Manager, Mr. Franklin Domenech, welcomes the general public to visit the DEA booth sponsored by Plaza Las Americas from Monday, October 28, 2002 through Thursday, October 31, 2002.

The DEA and Plaza Las Americas will host a news conference at the DEA booth on Monday, October 28, 2002, at 11:30 AM. The DEA booth will be located at the first level of Plaza Las Americas, in front of the Guess store. Mr. Harris and Mr. Domenech will be joined by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Rivera, Deputy Chief for Narcotics, U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Luis G. Zambrana, Director, Puerto Rico Governor's Office of Drug Control, and a representative from the Alianza para un Puerto Rico Sin Drogas.

For news media inquires contact Waldo Santiago, DEA News Media Representative, at 800-718-0781. To download Red Ribbon 2002 information, art, and Camarena's photos visit www.dea.gov.