MIKE CHAVARRIA

The youngest of two sons born to a Costa Rican father and a San Franciscan mother, he spent his childhood years in San Diego, CA, playing sports and practicing martial arts. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University, he joined the US Navy and received an officer’s commission. Afterwards, he became a federal agent with the Naval Investigative Service (NCIS) and specialized in counter-drug investigations. In 1985, Chavarria began his career as a DEA Special Agent, with assignments along the US-Mexico border and in Latin American countries, including Bolivia, Costa Rica, and Mexico (Guadalajara and Mexico City). He has received the DEA’s coveted Administrator’s Award and, in 2007, was honored to be named “Super Cop” by Texas-based “The 100 Club” for his role in the investigation involving “Junior.” Now retired, he is recognized as a subject-matter expert in Latin American counternarcotics and narco-terrorism. He is frequently consulted and interviewed by news networks and international journalists; he has been featured in two documentaries (“Narco Wars” and “Narco Circus”), has appeared on multiple podcasts, and has been invited to speak at events.  He is married and has a blended family of six children.