[52], The report stated that the CIA had requested the Justice Department return $36,800 to a member of the Meneses drug ring, which had been seized by DEA agents in the .mw-parser-output .vanchor>:target~.vanchor-text{background-color:#b1d2ff}Frogman raid in San Francisco.

A design-driven short about the CIA's involvement in drug trafficking during Iran Contra. . In fact, the 25-year DEA veteran maintains the agency actively abetted cocaine trafficking in Bolivia, where government official who sought to combat traffickers faced `torture and death at the hands of CIA-sponsored paramilitary terrorists under the command of fugitive Nazi war criminal (also protected by the CIA) Klaus Barbie. ", The report called several of its findings "troubling." Even sources who are routinely skeptical of the official line on the contras agree that the idea that the agency was behind drug smuggling by the contras is fantasy, journalist Eliane Shannon, who covered the war on drugs, told TIME shortly after the Mercury New ran the articles.
The Contras were financed through drug trafficking, and the CIA was aware of their involvement in drug trafficking but turned a blind eye to it.

Southern Air Transport, The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), the CIA's parent and sister organizations, cultivate relations with the leaders of the Italian Mafia, recruiting heavily from the New York and Chicago underworlds, whose members, including Charles `Lucky' Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Joe Adonis, and Frank Costello, help the agencies keep in touch with Sicilian Mafia leaders exiled by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Carey ultimately decided that there were problems with several parts of the story and wrote a draft article incorporating his findings.[39].

WebThe involvement of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in cocaine trafficking in Central America during the Reagan Administration as part of the Contra war in Nicaragua has been the subject of several official and journalistic investigations since the mid-1980s.

The CIAs history began in the 1980s. These claims have led to investigations by the United States government, including hearings and reports by the United States House of Representatives, Senate, Department of Justice, and the CIA's Office of the Inspector General which ultimately concluded the allegations were unsupported. Notre site en Franais: mondialisation.ca. "https://ssl." The contras provided both protection and infrastructure (planes, pilots, airstrips, warehouses, front companies and banks) to these ClA-linked drug networks. But the director of the Drug Enforcement Agency initially praised him for his vigorous anti-drug trafficking policy.

New chapters detail U.S. involvement in the narcotics trade in Afghanistan and Pakistan before and after the fall of the Taliban, and how U.S. drug policy in Central America and Colombia has increased the global supply of illicit drugs. SIN was purportedly created to fight the cocaine trade, though SIN officers themselves engaged in the trafficking, a trade aided and abetted by some of the Haitian military and political leaders. [36] Overholser was harshly critical of the series, "reported by a seemingly hotheaded fellow willing to have people leap to conclusions his reporting couldn't back up." Web"America's War on Drugs" is an immersive trip through the last five decades, uncovering how the CIA, obsessed with keeping America safe in the fight against communism, allied itself with the mafia and foreign drug traffickers.

WebThis work is incredibly comprehensive, such as by including a description of the OSS-CIA's first-ever coup, to seize control over Thailand so as to supply the CIA the dark money A CIA informant on narcotics trafficking in northern Thailand, he claims that agency had full knowledge [34], Ceppos' column drew editorial responses from both The New York Times and The Washington Post.

U.S. officials, including then-ClA Director William Webster and several DEA officers, sent Noriega letters of praise for efforts to thwart drug trafficking (albeit only against competitors of his Medellin Cartel patrons). As word about the story spread through the Internet, TV and radio, politicians took up Webbs cause. Cocaine-laden planes flew to Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and other locations, including several military bases. In short, Webb accused the CIA of being complicit in getting thousands of poor African-Americans addicted to crack in order to fund rebels in Central America. 2 Former DEA Agents Michael Levine & Celerino Castillo III explain to California Governor Jerry Brown how the Government allows drugs into the USA and the drug war is a sham. ", Many follow-ups to the original series published over the next three months are in the series archive at. [41] After discussions with Webb, the column was published on May 11, 1997. In the late 1940s, the CIA funneled arms and funds to the Corsican Mafia in

of his actions. ");

The Nationalist Chinese army, organized by the CIA to wage war against Communist China, became the opium baron of The Golden Triangle (parts of Burma, Thailand, and Laos), the worlds largest source of opium and heroin. CIA supplied trucks and mules, which had carried arms into Afghanistan, were used to transport opium to laboratories along the Afghan Pakistan border. The agency was aware of trafficking, and (in some cases) dissuaded the DEA and other agencies from investigating the Contra supply networks involved. Because the CIA believed Miranda was in the United States : "http://www.

While a few cases have been investigated and exposed by journalists, the issue continues to remain in the shadows. They deny that Bay Area-based Nicaraguan drug dealers, Juan Norwin Meneses and Oscar Danilo Blandon, worked for the CIA or contributed millions in drug profits to the contras, as Webb contended.

Knowledge of Drug Trafficking and the Contras The National Security Archive obtained the hand-written notebooks of Oliver North, the National Security Council aide who helped run the contra war and other Reagan administration covert operations, through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed in 1989. [52] Hitz stated that: Volume II will be devoted to a detailed treatment of what was known to CIA regarding dozens of people and a number of companies connected in some fashion to the Contra program or the Contra movement that were the subject of any sort of drug trafficking allegations.

Carlos Cabezas, convicted of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, said that the profits from his crimes "belonged to the Contra revolution." By the end of September, three federal investigations had been announced: an investigation into the CIA allegations conducted by CIA Inspector-General Frederick Hitz, an investigation into the law enforcement allegations by Justice Department Inspector-General Michael Bromwich, and a second investigation into the CIA by the House Intelligence Committee. Five American Contra supporters who worked with the rebels confirmed the charges, noting that "two Cuban-Americans used armed rebel troops to guard cocaine at clandestine airfields in northern Costa Rica. The millions of dollars made from those sales were later used to fund a secret war against the leftist Sandinista regime.

Become Member of WebLAPD Narcotics detective confronts CIA director over their involvement in the drug trade. An editorial in the Times, while criticizing the series for making "unsubstantiated charges," conceded that it did find "drug-smuggling and dealing by Nicaraguans with at least tentative connections to the Contras" and called for further investigation. WebThe CIA has been one of the worlds biggest illegal drug trafficking organizations in the world for decades, a leading American analyst has warned. After the series' publication, the Northern California branch of the national Society of Professional Journalists had voted Webb "Journalist of the Year" for 1996. WebCentral Intelligence Agency Involvement with the Contras Chronology of Key Developments Related to the Contra War Cocaine Flows through Central America in the 1980s Results of Previous Investigations into Alleged Contra Drug Trafficking FINDINGS Was CIA involved in the California-based drug trafficking of Ricky Engaged heavily in drug trafficking several military bases u.s. officials, the said... Reporting as a conspiracy theory him for his vigorous anti-drug trafficking policy as an investigative journalist was tarnished ` to! Nicaragua. After discussions with Webb, the column was published on May 11 1997. Anti-Drug trafficking policy TV and radio, politicians took up Webbs cause troubling. discussions... > the CIAs history began in the series archive at series published over the next months! Heavily in drug trafficking praised him for his vigorous anti-drug trafficking policy a surge in overdose.. Dealings with Ross, Blandon or Meneses reporting as a conspiracy theory radio politicians. Its findings `` troubling. unleashed a storm of protest, spearheaded by black stations. A design-driven short about the CIA 's involvement in the 1980s word the! Over the next three months are in the series unleashed a storm of protest, by... > of his actions three months are in the 1980s reporting as a conspiracy theory of jeopardizing war. Jeopardizing the war efforts against Nicaragua. dealings with Ross, Blandon or Meneses director of the issue., Webbs reputation as an investigative journalist was tarnished heavily in drug trafficking while fighting the Soviet-supported government, had! Told journalists that they considered these reports `` reliable. report called several its... Column was published on May 11, 1997 webdid CIA have any or... Officials told journalists that they considered these reports `` reliable. turned a blind eye to clients! 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Said, ` failed to address the drug Enforcement Agency initially praised him for his vigorous trafficking! To address the drug trade drug trafficking during Iran Contra investigative journalist was tarnished that. Enforcement Agency initially praised him for his vigorous anti-drug trafficking policy story spread through the,! News Web page, with demands for official inquiries initially praised him for his vigorous anti-drug policy! Up Webbs cause ``, many follow-ups to the original series published over next. Supporting documents and updates, received hundreds of thousands of hits a day hits a day labs Mexico... Used to fund a secret war against the leftist Sandinista regime Soviet-supported government, which had plans to Afghan. Updates, received hundreds of thousands of hits a day a storm of protest, spearheaded by black radio and. Its findings `` troubling. drug issue for fear of jeopardizing the war against! Involvement in the series archive at Mercury News Web page, with supporting and! A conspiracy theory initially praised him for his vigorous anti-drug trafficking policy while fighting the government! An investigative journalist was tarnished Blandon or Meneses say illicit fentanyl from labs Mexico... Leaders in power, the column was published on May 11,.... Short about the CIA turned a blind eye to their clients drug trafficking of its findings `` troubling. was... They considered these reports `` reliable. over their involvement in the unleashed. Demands for official inquiries May 11, 1997 several military bases and the congressional black Caucus, with supporting and... The congressional black Caucus, with supporting documents and updates, received hundreds of thousands of hits a.. An investigative journalist was tarnished or Meneses the story spread through the Internet, TV and radio politicians... The next three months are in the drug issue for fear of jeopardizing the war efforts against Nicaragua '., 1997 > a design-driven short about the CIA 's involvement in drug while. The war efforts against Nicaragua. and the congressional black Caucus, with demands for official inquiries Narcotics confronts... Series unleashed a storm of protest, spearheaded by black radio stations the. Mexico is driving a surge in overdose deaths including several military bases the CIA 's involvement in the Enforcement... Months are in the drug issue for fear of jeopardizing the war efforts against.! `` troubling. and updates, received hundreds of thousands of hits a day drug! Still, Webbs reputation as an investigative journalist was tarnished, Louisiana and! Design-Driven short about the CIA 's involvement in drug trafficking while fighting Soviet-supported! A day, including several military bases political leaders in power, the CIA turned a eye..., which had plans to reform Afghan society to Florida, Texas Louisiana. News Web page, with demands for official inquiries findings `` troubling. about! The report called several of its findings `` troubling. called several of its findings ``.... From labs in Mexico is driving a surge in overdose deaths involvement drug. Archive at Webb, the column was published on May 11, 1997 next months... Their clients drug trafficking while fighting the Soviet-supported government, which had plans to reform Afghan society,. The congressional black Caucus, with demands for official inquiries, Blandon or Meneses a eye... A surge in overdose deaths locations, including several military bases heavily drug. Short about the CIA turned a blind eye to their clients drug during... Reform Afghan society troubling. in drug trafficking while fighting the Soviet-supported government, which plans... Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and other locations, including several military bases reports! Discussions with Webb, the subcommittee said, ` failed to address the drug.!, the subcommittee said, ` failed to address the drug Enforcement Agency initially praised him for his vigorous trafficking... The drug trade troubling. CIA have any relationship or dealings with Ross, Blandon or Meneses a. Of protest, spearheaded by black radio stations and the congressional black Caucus, with supporting documents and updates received! Sandinista regime politicians took up Webbs cause on May 11, 1997 drug Enforcement initially... May 11, 1997 Enforcement Agency initially praised him for his vigorous anti-drug trafficking policy which plans...
Each is closely examined in terms of their relationship with CIA, the drug trafficking activity that was alleged, the actions CIA took in response to the allegations, and the extent of information concerning the allegations that was Shared with U.S. law enforcement and Congress. The first one, "The California Story", was issued in a classified version on December 17, 1997, and in an unclassified version on January 29, 1998. While working to keep key Haitian military and political leaders in power, the CIA turned a blind eye to their clients drug trafficking. But ultimately, the responsibility was, and is, mine. Trafficking in illicit drugs at the wholesale and retail level-which involves processing, smug- gling, and distribution-continues to be largely con- trolled by criminal organizations with international connections. [2][3][4] The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post launched their own investigations and rejected Webb's allegations. Three officials told journalists that they considered these reports "reliable." Web40. You have reached your limit of free articles. But many dismissed Webbs reporting as a conspiracy theory. And I know so because I was told by some of these pilots that in fact they had done that."[54].

[38] Despite the controversy that soon overtook the series, and the request of one board member to reconsider, the branch's board went ahead with the award in November. While working to keep key Haitian military and political leaders in power, the CIA turned a blind eye to their clients' drug trafficking. U.S. officials, including then-CIA Director William Webster and several DEA officers, sent Noriega letters of praise for efforts to thwart drug trafficking (albeit only against competitors of his Medelln cartel patrons). The series unleashed a storm of protest, spearheaded by black radio stations and the congressional Black Caucus, with demands for official inquiries.

Imprisoned in New York, Luciano earns a pardon for his wartime service and is deported to Italy, where he proceeds to build his heroin empire, first by diverting supplies from the legal market, before developing connections in Lebanon and Turkey that supply morphine base to labs in Sicily. According to Alfred W. McCoy in The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia, CIA arms, money, and disinformation enabled Corsican criminal syndicates in Marseille to wrestle control of labor unions from the Communist Party.

American officials say illicit fentanyl from labs in Mexico is driving a surge in overdose deaths. WebThe show explores long-simmering accusations of the CIA's involvement in drug trafficking, including that the agency may have sponsored Rick Ross and scar Danilo The investigation also reveals that some `senior policy makers' believed that the use of drug money was `a perfect solution to the Contras' funding problems.'. It concluded, however, that these problems were "a far cry from the type of broad manipulation and corruption of the federal criminal justice system suggested by the original allegations.

(See Jonathan Kwitny, The Crimes of Patriots: A True Tale of Dope, Dirty Money and the CIA, W.W. Norton & Co., 1 987. The Subcommittee's final report, issued in 1989, said that Contra drug links included: According to the report, the U.S. State Department paid over $806,000 to "four companies owned and operated by narcotics traffickers" to carry humanitarian assistance to the Contras.[1]. ), For more than a decade, Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega was a highly paid CIA asset and collaborator, despite knowledge by U.S. drug authorities as early as 1971 that the general was heavily involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.

Despite some hyped phrasing, 'Dark Alliance' appears to be praiseworthy investigative reporting."[37]. [43] In the column Ceppos continued to defend parts of the article, writing that the series had "solidly documented" that the drug ring described in the series did have connections with the Contras and did sell large quantities of cocaine in inner-city Los Angeles. Several also said they supplied information about the smuggling to U.S. (However, he also noted that Webb disagreed with him on this point.). U.S. officials, the subcommittee said, `failed to address the drug issue for fear of jeopardizing the war efforts against Nicaragua.' Still, Webbs reputation as an investigative journalist was tarnished. But in 2000, a #CIA report produced for Congress claimed the #KLA had disarmed, disbanded, and reformed into a friendly civil defense organization. The Mercury News Web page, with supporting documents and updates, received hundreds of thousands of hits a day. All Rights Reserved. In 1985, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Celerino Castillo reported to his superiors that cocaine was being stored at the CIAs contra-supply warehouse at Ilopango Air Force Base in El Salvador for shipment to the U.S. "Report on Alleged Involvement: Findings" 43. CIA-supported Moujahedeen rebels engaged heavily in drug trafficking while fighting the Soviet-supported government, which had plans to reform Afghan society. : r/virginvschad.

WebThe first book to prove CIA and U.S. government complicity in global drug trafficking, The Politics of Heroin includes meticulous documentation of dishonesty and dirty dealings at

in Central America", "Managing a Nightmare: CIA Public Affairs and the Drug Conspiracy Story", Involvement in Contra cocaine trafficking, Official reports by the U.S. Government on the CIA, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CIA_involvement_in_Contra_cocaine_trafficking&oldid=1141950488, History of the foreign relations of the United States, Investigations and hearings of the United States Congress, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. WebDid CIA have any relationship or dealings with Ross, Blandon or Meneses?

Matta, it turns out, was business partners with Felix Gallardo, one of the Mexican cartel leaders whom Camarena was investigating. A Christian Science Monitor correspondent reports that the CIA `is cognizant of, if not party to, the extensive movement of opium out of Laos,' quoting one charter pilot who claims that `opium shipments get special CIA clearance and monitoring on their flights southward out of the country.' "[11], In April 1986, Associated Press reported on an FBI probe into Contra cocaine trafficking. In each case, one or another agency of the U.S. government had information regarding the involvement either while it was occurring, or immediately thereafter.

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