James "Jaime" Kuykendall is the head of the Guadalajara bureau of the DEA. Working with Butch Sears, Roger Knapp and later Enrique Camarena, he was influential in publicizing the activities of the Guadalajara Cartel.
In 1985, Kuykendall had presented Camerena's oversight of the capture of subsequent destruction of a marijuana field owned and managed by Rafa to the U.S. government. Despite Washington being impressed with Camarena's actions, Mexico City was not, as it felt this would expose the Guadalajara Cartel's close relationship with government officials. Kuykendall had a beer with Camarena to pass on bad news, the Senate voted against further DEA action in Mexico. Immediately afterward, Camarena was abducted by corrupt policemen. As Camarena had worked with a couple before, he did not suspect immediate danger. Kuykendall worked tirelessly to find out what happened after Camarena was missing for a long period. This ultimately led to finding his corpse one month later. Kuykendall then got word he was being transferred to Laredo, as his superiors felt he was burned out trying to search for Camarena. He ultimately accepted this transfer, feeling further action would only be motivated by pure vengeance and not clearheaded investigative work.
In 1989, Walt Breslin began working under him. Using his influence, Kuykendall allowed Breslin to visit Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo in prison.
Appearances[]
| Narcos Mexico Season 1 | ||||
| "Camelot" Appears |
"The Plaza System" Appears |
"El Padrino" Appears |
"Rafa, Rafa, Rafa!" Appears |
"The Colombian Connection" Appears |
| "La Última Frontera" Appears |
"Jefe de Jefes" Appears |
"Just Say No" Appears |
"811 Lope de Vega" Appears |
"Leyenda" Appears |
| Narcos Mexico Season 2 | ||||
| "Salva El Tigre" Absent |
"Alea Iacta Est" Absent |
"Ruben Zuno Arce" Absent |
"The Big Dig" Absent |
"AFO" Absent |
| "El Dedazo" Absent |
"Truth and Reconciliation" Absent |
"Se Cayó El Sistema" Absent |
"Growth, Prosperity, and Liberation" Absent |
"Free Trade" Appears |