Ep 17 - Ken Cates: Border Skies and Smuggling Takedowns

Justice Then, Justice Now

In this episode we learn how someone with aspirations of becoming a high school history teacher from Mesquite, Texas ended up chasing drug smugglers in the skies over the U.S.-Mexico border? Veteran federal agent Ken Cates shares his extraordinary journey from aspiring educator to DEA and ATF operative, revealing the twists of fate that led him to a distinguished career in law enforcement. Ken's compelling stories offer a ground-level look at the unique challenges of working the southwestern border, and how the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Act program unexpectedly set him on this path.
Ken pulls back the curtain on high-stakes undercover operations and the crucial role of informants in generating cases, and the infiltration of dangerous groups like the Aryan Nation. We delve into the camaraderie among agents, their collaboration with the LAPD Intel Unit, and the dramatic raids that defined a thrilling era of law enforcement. You'll hear firsthand accounts of innovative sting operations in South Central LA, punctuated by the wild nature of the job during those intense years.
Join us as we recount the chaotic yet humorous start to the transition from the ATF to Customs, leading into the high-octane world of air smuggling operations. Listen to tales of chasing drug-smuggling aircraft with primitive yet effective methods and intense aerial pursuits that characterized customs enforcement along the border. From the spontaneous assignments to the adrenaline-pumping chases, this episode provides a vivid and captivating glimpse into the life of a federal agent patrolling the skies.
Produced by: Citrustream, LLC

Chapter

1. Law Enforcement Career and Border Insight (00:00:00)

2. Undercover Operations and Informant Relationships (00:17:08)

3. Onboarding in the Customs Service (00:33:13)

4. Customs Air Smuggling Operations (00:40:45)

5. Border Aerial Pursuit Operations (00:46:41)