Here's a taste of the extravagant scheme hatched by the DEA to have Bulfin set up a Mexican cartel leader named Daniel Gomez, who had served time with Bulfin. I especially like this part about the DEA sending him with a "stunning" female DEA agent to an art auction at Christie's in New York:

Sally and I look the part. She wears a flattering black Armani business suit purchased by the DEA, jewellery from Dior which she has to return to the shop on Fifth Avenue, and reading glasses from Dolce & Gabbana, also to be returned.

She is stunning. I successfully bid for the paintings and sit with a Christie's director to arrange for our Wells Fargo Bank to transfer the funds, a total of $26.5 m, to the Christie's account at Chase Manhattan. Afterwards, I return my perfectly-cut pinstriped Armani suit to the store.

Question: Did Armani, Dior and Dolce & Gabbana know they were contributing to a DEA effort? Or were they tricked, along with the unsuspecting consumer who later purchased the used sunglasses and suit?

After all the money the DEA spent on first class airfare, luxury hotels, meals and security, what did it get? Here's what happened to Daniel Gomez. He went free.

Daniel fought against his extradition to Mexico for several years in Australia until a satisfactory deal was struck with the Mexican authorities. A satisfactory deal for Daniel, that is. Upon his return to his native country, he was immediately released and, after several months, all charges against him were dropped. Like nothing ever happened. Rumour has it this freedom cost him $30 m.

In addition to Bulfin's book, his story will be coming to a screen near you, in The Banker. The film is in production with a $40 million budget.

Curiously, the book promo says at the end,

Undercover is a chilling novel that delves into the inside workings of Mexican drug cartels and the DEA, and reveals one man’s courage in outwitting them both in his personal battle for redemption.

It might be worth reading just to see how he "outwitted" the DEA and got his life back.