Leo Silva

Leo Silva is a retired DEA Special Agent, internationally acclaimed author, and storyteller whose work brings readers inside the hidden world of international drug trafficking, organized crime, and the people whose lives are forever changed by it.

After nearly three decades with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration—including ten years assigned to Mexico and service as the Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA office in Monterrey—Silva witnessed firsthand the rise of some of the world's most powerful criminal organizations. Those experiences now serve as the foundation for his writing.

His books combine authenticity with literary storytelling. Reign of Terror offers an unflinching account of the modern drug war through the eyes of a veteran investigator, while Narco Tales presents a compelling collection of true stories that reveal the human drama, moral complexity, unexpected humor, and ever-present danger behind life on both sides of the law.

Whether recounting high-stakes investigations, moments of betrayal, or the quiet reflections that followed them, Silva writes with the conviction that every operation is ultimately a story about people—their choices, their sacrifices, and the consequences that ripple through families, communities, and nations.

From the streets of South Texas to the mountains and cities of Mexico, Leo Silva's work goes beyond headlines, offering readers an authentic and deeply personal perspective on a world few have ever witnessed firsthand.