232 Author & DEA Special Agent Leo Silva (retired) Takes Us Into The Zeta & Gulf Drug Cartels Reign Of Terror! (Part Two)

Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with Author and Retired DEA Special Agent Léo Silva.

Leo Silva spent over twenty-eight years on the frontlines of the global war on drugs as a special agent with the DEA. Leo’s journey took him from the alleyways of Fronton Street to some of the most dangerous corners of North America, leading high-impact investigations against the Zeta and Gulf Cartels.

He served as the Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Monterrey office, overseeing complex, cross-border operations that resulted in hundreds of high-value arrests and multi-million-dollar asset seizures. Over the course of his decorated career, he also held leadership roles in McAllen, Texas, and Guadalajara, Mexico—pioneering collaborative missions with Mexican authorities and helping rewrite the playbook for modern narco enforcement.

Now, Leo has turned his attention to storytelling. His debut memoir, Reign of Terror, offers a powerful, unfiltered look at the reality behind the headlines—a world of corruption, courage, and the personal cost of justice. The book has gained traction internationally and has been translated into Spanish for a Latin American release.

Leo is truly the real deal. This is a guy who has worked undercover numerous times in America and went after some of the most dangerous Mexican drug cartels. Please enjoy my chat with Leo Silva.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·     Having no diplomatic immunity and not being allowed to have a firearm while working in Mexico hunting down drug cartels.

·     The different drug cartels in Mexico that were active while Silva was working there.

·     The Zeta drug cartel.

·     The horrifying Bengal Tiger incident.

·     How Silva navigated the corruption and the levels or tiers of Mexican police and how he worked with them?

·     Using shock and awe! Creative ways to get to the Cartel bosses.

·     The house of hell and torturing people.

·     The Casino Royale fire. What was the motive?

·     What was the endgame for the dismantling of the Zetas?

·     What happened to Acapulco?

·     What do you think is the future of Mexico? It seems like cartel violence is starting to hit tourist areas now.

·     How Mexican cartels started with bootlegging during Prohibition.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Head on over to Leo's website to learn more about him and his work.

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

Cops and Writers is a podcast hosted by retired police sergeant and author, Patrick O'Donnell. The podcast provides valuable insights and humor for crime writers who want to create accurate and believable police stories. O'Donnell conducts in-depth interviews with members of law enforcement and civilian experts, discussing police procedures and culture. He also interviews crime fiction writers and writers from different genres, discussing what works in the ever-changing landscape of book sales and publishing. The podcast offers candid stories told with cop humor and technical details about the world of law enforcement.