The FBI’s drug snitch was in trouble with a cartel by losing a load — there was a risk he was going to be ostracized or ed. At the very least the snitch would noonger have access to good drug Intel.
To help the snitch makes things right and again assure him access to drug Intel the FBI gave the snitch the info about the impending load by the rival cartel.
To assure access to future drug Intel the FBI laid the groundwork for a major drug rip-off that resulted in the death of a US federal agent.
This owe the pattern of the US undercover agent Timothy McVeigh, who partipated in the bombing of a federal building as part of PatCon, an ambitious FBI/SPLC coventure to bring down right wing subversives.
This OWE the pattern = This FOLLOWED the pattern