Red Ribbon week started after the kidnapping , torture, and murder of DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camarena in 1985. Camarena had been working undercover Guadaljara, Mexico for over four years. His efforts led to a tip that resulted in the discovery of multimillion dollar narcotics manufacturing operation in Chihuahua, Mexico. The successful eradication of this and other drug Production operations angered leaders of several drug cartels who sought revenge. As a result, they murdered key imormants and then,on February 7, 1985 they kidnapped Agent Camarena and his pilot captain Alfredo Zavala-Avelar (taken separately on the same day).