Through years of beat reporting and persistence, AP investigative reporters Joshua Goodman in Miami and Jim Mustian in New York gained exclusive access to internal Justice Department records that allowed them to tell a rare and riveting story.
Goodman and Mustian had long been tracking misconduct within the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Their interest was piqued by possible links between the DEA and Diego Marin, Colombia’s infamous contraband smuggler known for bribing police and politicians — and seemingly untouchable. What the reporters uncovered was that Marin had a powerful ally inside the U.S. government.
Their reporting led them to a trove of thousands of pages of internal documents detailing how Marin corrupted DEA agent Jose Irizarry over several years. Irizarry made Marin an informant, shielding him from investigations while enabling his illicit business by rerouting undercover DEA wire transfers to Marin’s associates and facilitating the movement of contraband.
In return, Irizarry enjoyed a lavish lifestyle funded by bribes — complete with alcohol, prostitutes and luxury goods. “It was a very fun game that we were playing,” Irizarry told AP.
Working with editor Del Wilber, the reporters wove together complex federal operations and explosive source material into a compelling, accessible narrative that revealed a deeply troubling corruption scandal.
The story quickly gained traction, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro sharing it online and major Colombian media outlets following AP’s lead.
Judges praised the vivid detail, clear structure, and gripping storytelling that brought a serious case of corruption to light—one in which lives were lost and millions in U.S. taxpayer dollars went unaccounted for.
For their exclusive reporting and standout storytelling, Goodman and Mustian win this week’s Best of AP — First Winner.
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