Undercover DEA Agent Louis Diaz on Taking Down Harlem Drug Kingpin Nicky Barnes (Full Interview)

Former DEA agent Louis Diaz sat down for his first-ever VladTV interview, and Vlad started off by speaking about Diaz being largely responsible for taking down New York crime boss Nicky Barnes. From there, Louis spoke about his upbringing in Red Hook, Brooklyn, in the 1950s and 60s, which Diaz said was the best time of his life, and he went on to speak about how there was a mafia presence in his neighborhood. During the conversation, Louis detailed how he got started in the ATF, and he went on to speak about Nicky Barnes starting a crime syndicate called “The Council” in Harlem. Louis detailed how The Council and the mafia worked with one another in the streets, and Louis went on to speak about how he went undercover as a mob associate. Louis explained that people were raising suspicion about him, which led him to move to California, and Louis later moved back to New York.
Moving along, Louis spoke about being around Nicky Barnes and infiltrating The Council, and investigating the inner workings of the organization. Louis detailed taking down The Council, Nicky Barnes’ arrest, and the RICO case. Louis explained that there was an anonymous jury in the trial, and he spoke about the shock when Nicky and his associates learned that he was working undercover. Louis also spoke about speaking to Nicky, and he went on to address Nicky getting life in prison. Elsewhere in the interview, Louis spoke about being part of “Operation Pisces,” where he took down members of the Medellin cartel. To hear more, including Louis speaking about other cases he worked on, hit the full interview above.

[@NEUTRALDROP]

Hey Mr Diaz you coached my baseball team with Mr Mancuso Phillys Dad. Till this day I tell my kids it ain't over till it's over. You manned us up in a good way, thank you for being a great role model. I played Hockey and I was Left wing Louie Right wing and Richie Center...those were the days. Now I understand the Sunglasses Hat and beard and covert baseball practice locations behind John Bowne lol, Mooney

[@ThePheonixRising420]

Shows you how deep Vlad's fed connections go lmaooo

[@pierlouis7325]

Lol

[@thegoatski]

Fr

[@dearlola1]

fire interview, loved it

[@gezman65]

I met him at a boxing event in California in 2009. Nice guy.

[@tareekmichael7027]

This was a great one. Can tell he will be back.

[@tee-boppin_em8147]

He Really Misses His Wife!! Heart Breaking!!! I Feel For Him In The Way How I Loved My Dad Sooooo Much My Best Friend taught me Everything I Kno!!! He Passed Unexpectedly When I Was 16 Changed My Whole Life An Out Look On Everything!!

[@stephenkinq5425]

I feel your sentiments .. My Pops was my best friend. R.I.P

[@gsonn18]

Great story - Good Interview!

[@AdamBig16]

Always nice when vlad is able to bring us this caliber of guest really dope content the library of so many people’s life story vlad is definitely playing the long game decades to come outlets will have to come to him to be able to use some of these as reference material etc it’s pretty amazing what his channel has the potential to accomplish

[@jaym6187]

Lmao stfu “this caliber” you don’t talk like that in real life

[@casualgamer177]

True he has been laying down the ground work for the Vladtv content shift for a few years now.

[@coltonkosto98]

Thats so true...Finally! Someone who has something yo say other than "vlad is the cops" and "he only cares about himself" I swear half these people CAMT WAIT to hear a narrative they can follow

[@AdamBig16]

@@coltonkosto98 yea facts bro unfortunately because of some of the content he provides it inherently brings in a younger demographic of viewers that don’t fully grasp what vlad has done by accumulating a visual library that encompasses such a wide variety of content that could and will be used as reference material for years to come when other outlets or individuals are doing research or creating there own content on the topics or people vlad has covered and will have to pay vlad to be able to have clips or sound bites from the content he owns it’s pretty cool and a dope long term play

[@dannyj4163]

Love watching all these interviews with you vlad and mafia story's ect keep up amazing work my brother 👏 🙌 👍 🙏 💪

[@jaseallenson316]

Its refreshing to see someone who isnt a hater in the comments. It blows my mind, that people continuously hate in the comment sections, yet they are the ones who willingly spend time and energy to watch yet they supposedly hate everything vlad does and everything about him. Envy is a bitch.

[@holysmokes4259]

Diaz is an old school New Yorker harder and harder to find these days. The last of a dying breed.

[@SebastianEdmonds-fm9yc]

Fuuny

[@mikehunt9884]

yeah that is one of the weirdest thing these days, walking outside, not a kid to be seen, nobody's playing outside. Even growing up in the 80's, in the city, there were literally gangs of kids playing outside, either riding bikes, or playing hockey or baseball on the street. And in the afternoon in the summer, people used to hang outside on their balcony or on the front lawn, or the steps, and people knew each other, you knew who were the drunks, who beat their wives, who was crazy, who was a pervert and stay away from that house! who were the good guys etc.. these days i couldn't even tell you who lives next door. At least i can say im lucky enough to have experienced a fun childhood. WTF do kids do these days? sit at home on their tablet? watching tiktok?

[@BigBundaLatina]

Brother it's like that everywhere now, I'm only 24 from around Sydney in Australia, but I grew up ridin my pushbike up the bush everyday after school building jumps an just going out exploring up creeks an shit like that.. These days kid's are just playing games sitting on there ass playing game's and gettin fat its fucked up

[@dande9238]

I was born in 98 and and me and my friends been sayin we was the last generation to be outside. You hit the nail on the head about not even knowing your own neighbors, I hardly see them. I also feel like people lack small talk skills these days. I can’t really give an example off top but ppl just be inside to much

[@dande9238]

@@BigBundaLatina I’m 25 and I honestly feel like our age group is the last ones to actually grow up outside in the grand scheme of things

[@BigBundaLatina]

@@dande9238 100% brother

[@nicholasp9004]

Pretty strange, sad and scary days we all have come together to witness. If you're reading this try to remember you are my brother or sister and I love you. I mean if you want to get really trippy then the same basic elements that build me build you and the phones or tablets or computers you're watching on and since matter can be neither created nor destroyed then we are all one. To quote Bill Hicks the greatest comedic philosopher of the 90's : "All matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, we are all one consciousness experiencing itself there is no such thing as death life is just a dream and we're the imagination of ourselves...." So love yourself because really none of us exist

[@PharoahsKingdom]

Remember this guy from the Mr. Untouchable and Frank Lucas documentaries

[@TheTrut416]

Stephanie St. Clair, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas, Nicky Barnes, Alpo, AZ, Rich Porter, Peter Shue, Mecca Audio, harlem was no joke. Between the Renaissance, Cotton Club, Savoy, Apollo there's a lot of history.

[@Cccc-ky4vq]

Great interview 👍👍⭐️⭐️🙌🙌🙌

[@ProdbyCeeSick]

Damn Vlads ruthless, couldn’t even hand the man a bottled water, I mean it’s obvious he needs it 😂😂

[@charleshuschka9022]

😊😅😅😅😊😅😅 BBB Ty. M

[@islandboi1988]

💀

[@sotorobinson9457]

Diaz sounds like SpongeBob when he need water 😂😭

[@nicknikolia8682]

Had to wash down that prostate medication

[@ProdbyCeeSick]

@@nicknikolia8682 😵🤣🤣

[@corona7st788]

May this man's wife rest in peace.....

[@NewTheoryMagazine]

Great guest 👌

[@TheMrdhyde]

Damn Vlad you don't have bottles of water for your guests? This dude needed a drink from the jump.

[@robertbeaulieu8721]

I just commented on the same thing to fn cheep to supply water.

[@HerbieLoveBug]

Awesome interview 👍🏾.....I wonder if he is related to the comedian Joey Diaz

[@NickBarbieriandfriends]

19:07 media offline. I think your hard drive got disconnected.

[@gerardl2395]

Hearing him talk and the way he carries himself you would never know he was a federal agent , And coming from Brooklyn made him a very dangerous agent 41:55

[@samanthaponder9378]

Fantastic 👍🏽

[@mammadoo7249]

Yes vlad it happens in real life, old school radios can pick up other signals like police radios & other radio stations if you are close enough to the source. In Key west we used to pick up Havanna Cuba stations! Great interview as per usual!

[@Juscantgetright]

Vlad does a better job interviewing crime related people than he does rappers I don’t mind it all tho

[@stonecold1389]

AMAZING LOVE ❤️ IT GOOD TRUE STORY WOW 🤩 THIS DEA PERSON IS GREAT LOVE ❤️ IT.”

[@jordanwood183]

28:52 .. “he provided” .. a WHAT?! 😂

[@nickmcquoid5264]

This guys tongue turtle heading 67 times in the first 3 minutes

[@cleanthestreets9564]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂💀

[@robertbeaulieu8721]

Yes cause Vlad is depriving him of H20

[@LiveTheGhost]

Gotta keep those dentures in somehow! GET THIS GUY A BOTTLE OF WATER FOR F*CK'S SAKE!

[@jordanwood183]

@@robertbeaulieu8721which is weird, because usually the Feds will at least offer you a bottle of water when they’re questioning you. 😝

[@Lue1st]

I knew Perky, Louis Diaz where did you live ? I'm from Court and Degraw st , my family has been here in this neighborhood since early 1900 s

[@Mrtalkupdating]

Nobody loves an informer more than vlad,I wonder what he has in common with them 🤔

[@jaseallenson316]

Are you serious? He has the criminals on way more than these types. And its dope to hear different aspects of these types of stories. Cuz if you watch a lot of these, all the people involved have different accounts of what really happened. Which can be expected when you are talking details of stories (spanning 10 yrs or so) from decades ago.

[@aspades]

What a great guy!!!! Go Louie Diaz !

[@Elizabethitsthebig1]

His book title went out the window the moment he fired the shots. I didn't quite understand the Castellano story.

[@unserrano]

Met Him when He was working in Los Angeles office. Came to my office a few times. Pursuit Technology

[@Greeneyedghost2020]

He sounds like Benicio Del Toros character in Usual Suspects

[@PortlandCripster]

Or Johnny Depp in _”Fear&Loathing in LV!”_

[@ericfreeman1303]

This guy is definitely old school Brooklyn the mannerisms & the speaking accent.

[@adimazga]

Vlad: you had a neighbour who worked for the ATF , and I guess through him you ended up joining the ATF Diaz: corect, it's a beautiful story btw Vlad: OK (Pikachu face) , let's move on.

[@deeray4637]

The amount of times he has done that with guests is unreal. Some shocking journalism lol.

[@aboucard93]

For real. I wanted to hear the beautiful story

[@calsums914]

He had some balls. Dealing with real gangsters

[@stephenkinq5425]

Takes a REAL One , to deal with GANGSTERS.

[@hammiranda]

Paulie Walnuts

[@pitbikesha9864]

@@stephenkinq5425 he was a fuccin undercover cop wtf are you saying 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@stephenkinq5425]

@@pitbikesha9864 Your one of those who use social media for nonsense nd Attention.

[@userabc125]

Because he was DEA. If these guys didn't have the full force of the US government federal or state 99% of these would be "gangsters" or wouldn't be law enforcement

[@hernandezmarkie7382]

Always nice to have vlads coworkers

[@jeremyjones8917]

Very good interview here vlad

[@BillyBobThot]

THE COUNSEL NOT THE COMMISSION!!!

[@chrispbacon1167]

I recommend everyone to watch “Mr untouchable” documentary about Nicky Barnes and the council of 7 it’s on KZbin & tubi

[@AdamKhan-vh4vf]

GET HIM

[@martincorona1964]

I had a fast forward I can understand a word of the Government guy says

[@biggface7]

Good interview. I wish Vlad would’ve asked him WHY do he think it would be a bad idea for them to legalize other drugs besides marijuana

[@shoominati23]

I don't believe in Legalisation, I do believe in controlled supply to individuals though.. They legalised in CA and it just created headaches, the Cartels took over..

[@steveg5576]

V ought to ask why --- if it was so great -- why is the problem today worse than it's ever been ?

[@DB-yk2pt]

I'm a former undercover narcotics detective for a multi jurisdictional federal task force. I can answer that for you. Because the drug war is one of our country's largest failures. I spent years undercover. I honestly don't know how many arrests I made. I didn't change one single thing. In fact, I made it worse. We targeted mostly middle to upper level dealers. And most of them were truly bad guys that needed to be in prison. But as far as drugs go I never put a dent in it. I don't have all the answers. But I know what we've been doing isn't working. You can't arrest your way out of addiction...

[@jaseallenson316]

@@DB-yk2pt the drug war wasnt a failure. Come on. It did exactly what it was intended to do, which would mean it was successful. You cant be that naive.

[@BigJyeTV]

I can see Al Pacino playing this guy in a story about him.

[@ronnieterrellwilliams5978]

You can't convince me undercover agents didn't have kids and families while under....

[@Cakaholic365]

Yeah they definitely must’ve! That’s actually an interesting topic

[@geet5959]

Wow really interesting topic

[@DB-yk2pt]

Do you mean their actual families ?

[@Cakaholic365]

@@DB-yk2pt he means side families. Some may have gone onto making the them their real families tho

[@DB-yk2pt]

@@Cakaholic365 thanks for the clarification. I'm a former undercover narcotics detective for a multi jurisdictional federal task force. I spent several years working undercover. It was more then enough keeping up my covert identity. The last thing I needed was a covert family...

[@marvinhagler4721]

A trip who vlad can get to interview

[@matthewsparks568]

Anyone else want to die when he keeps smacking his lips every 5 seconds?

[@prodbyfranco85]

Idk this guy reminds of the detective that got beat up by the piano 🎹 in American gangster lol

[@hishamhashim1660]

Only one thing missing from Vlad’s mafia interviews playlist : Sit down with Donnie Brasco aka Joe Pistone. Either he hasnt done it or his entourage already engaged Mr Pistone but he declined them. Wasted!

[@hammiranda]

Nicky Barnes and 'em

[@manuelunzueta8809]

I never shook his hand but he seen me and I seen him so I knew him and he knew me 🤣

[@jaseallenson316]

He meant he knew of his presence. Not that he personally had a friendship/relationship. Its crazy how so many have to be so petty and nitpick every little thing possible, just to find something negative to say.

[@luisjrrodriguez1721]

This dude is on that smoke LMFAO

[@chadallen3099]

Get that man a drink of water lol

[@sp-komainuarmy4335]

Komainu is the redemption for those that missed the beginning days of Shiba⛩️

[@WillSmith-wb1wv]

This man is the real life carmine Assante

[@Powerule23]

I attended a boarding military high school in New York for a year and one of my classmates was a guy whose mother dated Nicky Barnes. Barnes not only bought us football uniforms, he paid for home and away uni's that were the best quality I've ever seen for a high school team. I believe the academy was under the impression that the mother made the donation. I recall meeting her and she was iced out. Not cheap crap either. She looked filthy rich, which was uncommon for a Puerto Rican woman at the time.

[@rotweilerscholar1181]

Nicky Barnes Mother attended my best friends Wedding on White plains Rd back in my college days. She gave him 500 dollars cash which is probably equivalent to 5 racks today😊

[@TFFSRAD]

Poor wife .. damn that was harsh to hear

[@dee8263]

no i don’t know what a “humario”?? is

[@johnegan6012]

This guy's maybe 70 years old see how much u know at that age maybe older 😮

[@BillyBobThot]

YEASSHHH

[@unlimitedbeno6276]

This how you know Vlad the Feds

[@unlimitedbeno6276]

Nigga not even hiding it nomo

[@matthewsparks568]

I swear if vlad says “ok” one more time

[@MillionaireJoe]

Fix the picture at 19:07

[@aandmpartners3859]

Vlad always gotta speak his personal pov and in reality nobody cares about how he feel or what he has to say just do the damn interview leave your feelings at home

[@traceymann572]

LoL 😂 Yes I know What You Mean.... Just do The Interview Right On Baby 😘 Greetings from Philadelphia 💕

[@jaseallenson316]

Let him run his channel how he wants. Clearly he is doing something right. If you dont like it...guess what??? You have the personal freedom not to watch, or instead of whining about it...start your own channel and show us how it should be done.

[@aandmpartners3859]

@@jaseallenson316 wow talk about whining 🤣 here you are a man getting in his feelings about a man that don’t even know him 🤯 🍆🚴

[@brianmcghee3597]

Guy Fishers brother Wally actually brought down tht organization trying to be more than what he was.

[@rachelking3653]

Ok you may have a point but in nickys own words he took down 75 80 ppl but it was only 7 members in my opinion that was the only way he could get out of just which further leads me to believe that nicky just didn't want to do his time but hey who am i?????

[@rachelking3653]

* jail

[@kyeja6838]

These people are the worst!!!! THEY COME INTO YOUR LIFE, DO all the ILLEGAL THINGS YOU DO!!!! BEFRIEND YOUR MOM AND YOUR CHILDREN!!!!!! AND THEN THE TEAR ALL THISE PEOPLES LIVES APART!!!! And they go onto the next POOR FAMILY TRYING TO SURVIVE AND BEFRIENDS THEM!!!!!!

[@Jerbo1125]

Facts

[@blckent7999]

VLAD IS A LOWKEY HATER

[@jaseallenson316]

Yet, you and all the other "vlad" haters willingly take time out of your day to watch/support everything he puts out. What does that make you bro?

[@MrTony44578]

Oh ooo ok. I. You have the right number and you have time it will always been a while while 😊😊😊

[@leomerida2536]

When he talks I just remember lip smacking Ori Spado. Good interview tho

[@erikreitan2762]

How much came thru!? 100's of kilos of china white. Let's say tonns of toons...talkin' bout!

[@R1ch714]

Dogs were slanging heroin?

[@James_Edward59]

Glad’s former co-worker

[@kevinfahey1968]

❤

[@cash9739]

I think he took a Molly yup 😬 this him Glad

[@aceedwards5921]

Man he can get his own water vlad be paying these guys good money they should be buying clad water

[@robertbeaulieu8721]

NO< NO< NO water today its like he is torturing the guy, I would have asked for water or walked off the set. cheep cheep that's what the birdy said.

[@jaseallenson316]

Yall so are so petty and shallow. How do you know this isnt something this guy does, whether he is hydrated or not? Besides, with this dope interview most of yall are concerned about another mans mouth. Yikes

[@bosike7706]

Ion like mfs like this your own job wouldn’t give you the tools you needed and you still made it your business to take these people down that’s crazy

[@perq-30]

Interviewing one of his own

[@mateocalderon6822]

This dude said "the lewcheesy" family 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 how do u grow up in Brooklyn in those times and work mob cases with the feds, even undercover and not know how to pronounce lucchese??? I don't even know what to think.

[@geet5959]

Making fun of them obviously clown 🤡

[@morelife6508]

@@geet5959 right. It's showing disrespect

[@maxpower252]

Basque pride !

[@urubeycansing]

How’s his wife died that’s how my mom died that’s crazy

[@robertbeaulieu8721]

Powercop - Têtes à claques - Saison 2 - Épisode 22 Têtes à claques 821K subscribers

[@kickgamesoccer2360]

22:20 gunna "I want to end ysl the gang"

[@havdaironman]

The last time you could go to the polo grounds and get a free turkey on thanksgiving, back to school shopping, hot coco and rolls literally could live in the Rucker and never go hungry was when the black “drug kingpins” ran things. Now some people will say “they took it from the people” and I say so did the churches and they wasn’t giving away nothing but dreams and prosperity pimping

[@PortlandCripster]

My man got a everlasting gobstopper in his mouth ⏸

[@yung_dice203]

Absolutely No disrespect . But if your an undercover and NOT taste the product is different ..

[@montecarlos72]

man the sucking on there teeth 😬 after he speaking on something is killing me omg

[@natalieburns5864]

hahahahha ahhh he misses it thats why

[@jaseallenson316]

Makes me wonder why you are so concerned about another mans mouth.

[@adamcourtney4285]

I can’t understand this guy

[@Ken-iu2zp]

Exactly

[@oredi2159]

Ol school NY accent

[@springtroll]

like listening to someone underwater

[@SBoy-ks6wt]

@@springtroll 🤣🤣

[@tommyd8320]

love

[@InternacionalBoxing]

Asias The Golden Triangle and Mexicos Triangulo Dorado. The Source of so many drugs for the Gringos 💯

[@jerardmac8832]

So he helped the "I"Italians out to get the blacks. Ok. so this what we doing now

[@thewolf2153]

Duh. You think an Italian is going to side with the blacks?

[@jaseallenson316]

Omg. How pathetic of a statement.

[@two12dinero]

U can tell her crooked from the jump

[@timothybrown7174]

Once he said I was fond of these people AT THAT TIME interview was over hahahaha crooked ass forgetting questions in the middle of asking it he got crooked planting drugs HE TOLD YOU everything you need to know THEY RAIDED cause someone said bring me the keys, OH YOU MEANT keys to the car in a Got damn garage turned into a RICO ? Naw just kidding hahaha

[@tomp3978]

I want to enjoy these undercover agent stories but I can’t stop stop feeling like they wanna be’s

[@jrod6808]

Bunch of governments informants. The lot of them.

[@DanielsToyReviews]

He doesn't talk much ... :)

[@MrStraightkruddy]

This is vlad old partner in the force.

[@deeray4637]

I would've thought a former DEA agent could afford better Dental care. I kept looking at his mouth expecting those cheap ass denchers to come flying out 😭.

[@jaseallenson316]

Thats what you take from this video? Pretty shallow dont ya think? Makes me wonder why you are so concerned about another mans mouth.

[@deeray4637]

@jase allenson and you feel you need to be a white Knight and defend a man who doesn't know you exist, over a joke? Ye, calm down weirdo.

[@theyard2628]

He’s high as a kite watch his mouth

[@tacoreyr3927]

They way he talks sounds like a dope fean