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    Document de Lester COLEMAN et Fred McCOY

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    60 views65 pages

    Dealing in Death

    Uploaded by

    MycroftUlloa
    Document de Lester COLEMAN et Fred McCOY

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 65
    "How te Agency Cresta America's errant Dealing in Death ~The Ci and The Drugs Trade ~ ‘rom Anica Wet "No one knows what is really going on. If they ever cid, it would make Watergate look lke Alice in Wonderland." LESTER COLEMAN ‘US. Defence tligonce Agency “Ibis ironic, to say the least, that America's heroin plague Is ofits own making.” FRED W MeCOV INTRODUCTION Under tne guises of national security, patiatm and protecting democracy, normal boundaries of ‘eis and morally have ben consictonty anecondod bythe Cena ieligence Agency i is ‘Geological war of defesing communism, ‘The Agency has resrted to any means itcansder necessary, and alle self wth ny peteon or up considers necessary, op achive ls ends. ‘As ox IA agent Vetor Marchett putt “The Agency would he Satan hms as an agent he coud help quarante the rational secur” “The United States government has wiingly made drug networks an essentially nthe covert ‘Spansion of American nuence abroad Despite the governments supposed voterousant-rugs poly, senor US. dps and CA ‘agents nave actively engaged inthe producion and tanepor of narcoics worldwc. The GIN ‘Shormous oem the global rug rae provides ane of te mre narratives che Age's ‘sorta htony. ‘As willbe shown, tha ral of comuption lad ote highest levels of successive Washington ‘Sminsrations, ight to the Wont doors of Presets, + Nixon + Caner + Reagan + bush + Glinon ‘The CIA has also brought ts methedcogy home tothe inner ely gheto inthe Une States, ‘emzing American otzane as Body ee any foregnes, In fot, at wo cits junctures ster Wer War Il the late 19408 andthe ate 1970s - when ‘Ameria heron supply and add population began te ebb, the CU's covert narcoics operations {oneratod a sudden suge of her at soon revved he US. arog Wade, Intetigence agencies and cme syndicates share much in common; bh maintain age ‘organizations capable of caring Gut covert operations without fear of detection andere ha ‘feveloped a natura aint between the vo, For example when the CA needed a gion of tugs to break the 1950 Commune dock stk in Marseiles,#turmed tthe y's Gorsean cme args. \Wnen the Agency atmpte io assassinate Fidel Caso in the 1960s, t employed American aia syndeates, ‘The CIA involvement wth the international drugs trade canbe traced back to the Agency's covert operations inthe Far East ain Ameica and Europe Inthe eat slags ote Cot War, CIA operatives drecty assisted underwoddnarots Wafickers in these areas aligning together ina fight against Communism and th et “The CIA has lied isa wth heroin merchants in Laos, Chinese opium dealer in Burma, miltay 4g lords in Taland and Panama, Colomblan cocaine cats n Nearagua and Cota Re, and ‘aria opium armies n Aight, ‘THE EUROPEAN CONNECTION ‘The CIA lance with the drug lors inte late 18408 cae atte when the gov opium ‘rade wa at towest abn near wo eats ‘rls War I had rupted rtmatona shipping and imposed ght watortont socuty that made ‘mugging a erin into the nied States vtualy possi. Heron supples were small Intemational cine eynteates wee in dsaray.Amperea's adit population plumed fom 200,000in 124 to amare 20,000 n 1948 “The possibilty existe that herein addiction might eventual disappear asa jor socal preblem Ine Untea States However, the CUA ands warime predecessor, the OSS (Ofc of Stratgic Stun), crested & uaton tat made possible forthe Sillan-Arerican Mafia and the Cosican undetworl © revive the ntemationa narcotic Europe was America's most important potclbatteround at hat time. Determined to rest the Infuonce ofthe tin Wester Europe, the CIA mtervened covert inte tral pois f tay land France. In Sly the OSS alled wit te Mafa to asst he Aled eras nhl 1943 wasion ofthe on ‘Att ang conv! of Si, the U.S army retuned favors othe Maa by sppoinng Don Calogero Viz the leader f the Stellan Mata) mayer of Via, ‘Genco Russo (Calogera's successor as Sys Maia Doss) was appointed mayor o! Mussume Unger he command of Colonel Cnries Pale, the fxm leutenant governor Nw Yor the Alles mitary Government selected Mafosi a mayors i many towns across westem Sly. ‘nthinfve years tho, Mata controls pts in Sty ‘As allan polis sited to the fn 1943-1944, th aliance between American nteigence and {he Mafia was maintained to check the growing stengt af he alan Commun Pay Sicly. Don Calogero rendered sews to Washingors sn Communist eos by breaking Wp lew politcal rates ‘On September 18th 1944, for example. 2 Communist rly ended abrupt in aha of gunfire as ‘Don Caloger's manfred ints the ow and wounded 19 spetstor. In 1048, American mtr insigence made an enormous ito the, Mafa they released ‘Salvatore “Lucky” Luelane om preon in New York and dept him to aly thereby Fesing ‘one of tho criminal tans of his generation to rebuild te eon tage. Luciano waethe man who had ames sngle-handedy ui the Maat the most power criminal neat nthe Unites States ‘wahin two years after Lucanosretum toy, he U.S. government deported more than 100 more Maio ‘ith the help ofthese peopl an his od rend Don Caloger, Luciano was abl to ai build ‘an ematonal narcoto eydleate. For more han a decade this syndoate moved morphine aso fom the Miele East Europe, ransfomes It io heroin, and then expvted tin subetatal ‘quanti tothe Unite States af without sufeang a major amet or seizure ‘The organization's comprahensive cetrbuton network within the Unt States Naga raise the rurbar of acai rom an estimated 20000 atthe ease of Worié War 1 60,000 1682 ant 180,000 by 1965, Lucano became a milonie mary tes over. ea Cha “Lily Lo ang, patie tcotty From 1948 to 195, the C1A alle sof with the Corsican underworé in its oh aga the French Communist Party (Ben te largest pote! party France) for convo over he satis Medierranean por of Marslles, [ithe time the Sian Mafia were ring on Masel supplies” ‘Corsan syndicates for thr uy “Te Corsican syndicates gained polis! power and convl of he waterfront a arent of hit Involvement wit te CIA nse breaking atts mary November 1047 sre of wat sirkos and domentaions broke out in Maselos over poor wages and skyrocketing food pices, which were leading to widespread starvation Spontaneous strikes closed down factories, mines and ralway yards oughoutthe county and by late November, thee millon workers were on sie and to French economy was alma paralyzed Working through the American Federaton of Labor (AFL), which was operating is oun secret networks throughout Europe, fe ClA began sending some 82 millon a yea oant-Cormunis labour leaders and engineered tho st spit post war European abou by channeling CCandostne funds tothe Socal leader Leon Johaux. wo then led isan Communist union, Force Ouvrero, out a an aliance wth the Communit, Itmay seem out of character forthe CIA tobe backing anything 80 far le asthe Soca Party. However, atthe tie there were ony tree major polticl partes in France - Sock, Communist and Gauls Whe Goneral de Gaulle was oo ndopendent for Washinglors tastes Sociit ‘Eaters were rapalyesingpoteal ground tothe Communists and thus wee wang 6 colaborate wth te Ci, ‘Agency payments of 1 main to the Soca Party guaranteed them asrog eecoral base in {he labour movement and gave is leaders the pbc! stengh 1 lead the tack or Sears \Wie Mares Social leader Gastron Deere called fran antCommunist raed rom the oor of te National Assemby, Socast Mt ofthe intro dules Moch stetoc massive polos actions agains sing workers With the advice and suppor othe U.S mitay tach a Par, Moon calesup 80,000 reserves and mbized 200,000 oops io baie the seers. Police unis attacked picket ines with unrestrained volnce, while Communist muniipal ‘counelors were severly beaten up in Marselles City Hal by members ofthe Mafia gang led by the Guerin bothers “The CIA als sont agents anda psychological warfare eam to Marseiles, where they dealt Stet wth Corsican syncate loaders trough the Guerin brthes. The Agency Supplied arms ‘and money to the Corsican gangs fr harasment of union officals ad assaults on Sommunis, ‘Eka ies, murdering numbar of shor m the process. ‘The CIA psychological warfare tam prepared pamphlets, radio bcadcass and posers aimed a Gscouraping workers rom contulng the ste [Atone point the American government trestnad to ship 65,000 seeks of four mean forthe hhunary ety back to the U.S unless the docers unloaded them incl. Faced athe ‘verwneting onslaught of viotoce and hunger, Marslla's workers abandoned te sire ater lesson a mont, along win thleconvades na est of France. “The Guerin gained enough power and status fom their oe in smashing the srketo emerge 35 the new leaders ofthe Casican unaerwor in Maes. When more stikes broke out in Marseies i 1950, the CIA channeled £2 millon of ove funds 0 {cab labourer from sy snd acre of oel Corecan criminal by Pierre Fett lean 0 work ‘he docks, unloading shipments of U.S. weapons. In cation, te Guerin’ gangsters were assigned the jo of assaulting Communities ‘tow troops and scabs onto the docks ‘By suppying the Corsican syneates wih money and suppor. the CA broke te las ares to Uurresttctd Carlen heroin smugaing operations in Maraelies. The Corsican used tha onto {ver the port tn note ern pl of Eusope andi emirate the exp Nero Toe US market Gaston Deter andthe Soca Party emerged victorious following the weakening ofthe (Communist Paty andthe Soctalss manned poltea raga aver the Marsells rural government that ased a quarter of entry. ‘Troughout hs period, the Gueris mantained a clos relationship wit the pary, sting 35 bodyguards ad campaign workers fr Soca candidates “The Corsicans also enjoyed politcal protection fom France's inteligence sence, tte SDECE, ‘which alowed ther here aborts to operate unsure for nearly 20 years ‘THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN CONNECTION ‘Simultaneously tts actives In Exope, the CUA ran a saris of covert operations i Southenst ‘Asia along the Chinese borer, which was nrumental in the eration oe “Galsen Trang ‘ron compl “Te outbreak ofthe Korean War in 1960 established the CIA's jreicion inthe Far East and or ‘ha nowt quarter contuy covert paramilry operons wore the major Agency sc ne sea, ‘Since those demanded aliances with powerful warods or ital leaders who ractinaly deat in ‘rugs, the Agency enmeshed Its covert operators wih te regions opium Val, When igo Tse-tungs peasant armies captured Sangh ster Word Wr, they dove Chi heron Watikers out ofthe county “The new Communit regime hen began a massive detoxication progr to combats adit population, estmeted st 40 mln, to largest n te world. Communist cadres ened adits nd sent them to local drug cies: persistent adits were cspaned to labour canoe. Through the process ofan reform, extensive poppy Feld wore ecaimed fr fod pructn and iret ‘optum culbvaton was bane. ‘The People's Liberation Army began ptoling the Chinese border to prevent an expected counter atack by Gl-suppoted Nationalist Chinese oops and Chi’ ug trade virtually ceased In contrast to suc anti-drug acts bythe Communists, the CIA and he U.S, Agency for Interational Development (USAID) supplied the rots opium and heron dears wah ars, ‘ammuniton, varspataton of food suppies, bulge and umaniaran alm exchange or ‘morcenaryforoeso pola leverage “These dealer incised the Kuomintang (KT ox Nationalist Chinese) onthe Chinese order. ‘Hmong team n Lave ld by nara trate Vang Pao, sna verious patio tactong in South Viena and Burma OMNGiRD Sect myn oe rom abo CIA support oten indies active partkpation in he collection, manufacture and wenspor of ‘pum and herain CIA actvts in Burma helped transfor the Shan Sits from a eatvely minor popy cutting ‘ra into te legest pun growing region inthe wo, whe the Cla helped st 12 000- 'Srong opium amy in he mountain of norter Bure, ‘As par of ts cover operatons against Communist China, the CIA established large cover Srucure on Tawan known as West Enterprises. The, and on of the Agency’ aranes, Ci ‘Ar Transport, provided cover forte CIA to drop tas of Cnese Natonatsaders on ‘manlané Chins, to conta! dassents and bids viable resins fo ao Tse-tng’s ovormnmont Commandos were also sentin va mal bats rm fore ialand of Quemoy “The CIA planned a covert invasion of China, and organized several thousand oops ed by CGoneral LIM, whe were ned by a further 8000 reeuts fom the lndgencus hil bes In Burma land 000 crack KMT trops shipped in by the Ageny ror Tala The CIN ares bogan Fogul shut ights to bases and camps in Burma, using Thal asiis for refueling andr supo}ng. tn August 1952 this army invaded Yunnan Proune in China, preting tha he peasants would ise up n support ofthe, Butts not happen andthe invaders were dven out General Mi gave upatempts 0 ‘defeat China, established a quast-ndopenden satan Burma and became valves in ranning ‘Be ucatwe opium vase, aod nis by General Phao Slyanan ofthe Tha Pelce one of he Cin’ most portant agents in Souteas Asa. (Over the nex decade, Burma's Shan sates wore transformed ino te work's largest opium producer ‘The CIN alliance withthe opum armies inthe Burma-Thaibordelans lasted for< decade. The ‘Agency desvered ams to her frees in Buia an then loaded opm aboaré CA Transport Panos forte return hight to Banglok Inflation routes for CIA commando team to Souter {hina wee also used as drug smuggling routes fr tafckersin Bua and Thala. ‘The Agency maintained fe sere raining carps ad two kay tering post inte Shan states, protected by drug smugging KM toope and toca tibesmen “Te rationale behing the CIA's suport for drug tafickesin the region was best summed up by (General Tuan Shiawen 2 veteran ofthe Agenays covert wath Bum “We have to continue fo ight the evi of Communism an gt you must have an ‘army, and an amy musthave guns, and‘ buy guns you must have mane. In ‘hese mountains, the only ony sep ‘The CIA via ts Sea Supply Company, tre is ful suppor behind General Pha, raking him the strongest man n Tala Inexchange, Phao alowed the Agency to develop to Thal paramiltry organizations, the Police ‘eral Resoninalssance Uni andthe Bose Pal Pos (BPP). ‘Te manage he training and equipping ofthe BPP, te CiAbroughtin Paul Helwel one of tele “pecs on forming Font compan and laundering unde for-back operation, et up (over erantzatonapereing out of Mam By 1983, the CA had supped General Phao wih $35 millon of naval vessel, ame, armored \ehices| communications equpment and aiaft and the Agency had 278 agents working wth PPhacs poles. Phao became Thaliane mast arden an Communist ant sppeartat a major {ak was to suppot he KIT poll ams Thatand and fs guia uns Bum hao protected KMT aupplyehipments, marketed ther plum and helped to generale suppor for the KAT among Taland’s overseas Chinese conmmunty, the ichetin Ai. U.S. Ambassador Wllam Donovan, founder ofthe OSS and senior advise to he CIA hale’ Phaos poles sat as, “the ee works strongest bastion in Southeast Asa” By 1955, Phao's National Pace Department (TNPD) had become the Iargest opiumtaicking syileaten he cout and wat Italy involved In evry phase of te atcotcs ade. “Te lve of coupon was remarkable, even by Thal standards. Poce border guaris escorted {he KNIT epi caravans fom tne Tha Surma border to pole warehouses Chana. From ‘re pole quads cag to Bangkok by tai o poles arcrt. Than vas loaded onto. {van coastal vessel and escorted by the marie police fo amiocean endezvaus wih {elghtore bound for Heng Keng or Singapore. ‘The miltaryolts hat ruled the county grew immensely wealthy fom the rug monmpoly and {fom tes 1 the CA. Much ofthis ug srugingnstwork remains very sce today. and ‘mahtains ts cose links wit Thafana’s rata and paramitry ces “The historical oos ofthe CIA's secret supply network forthe Nearaguan Contras inthe 18605 le vith tne Agency's pramatary programs wit te KMT and te BPP m Southeast Asa ‘These covet operations provided the Agency wih considerable experience inthe management of seeret ware ana aug ning ‘The CIA's aitnes, amongst hem Ci Air Transport ator A Arai) and Air Asia. along with the Agency's holding compary the Pacte Cerparation, povided a support for mary of he rug operations in the Far East In Lae, te CIA hoped to defeat he left-wing Patel Lao and North Vieiarese For that purpose I supped guns, money and traning tthe Hmong be, the par ofthe Lacan ‘population most eager to ght forthe Agency (most were ant-Communst monarchist The Ermong's my eash cop wae opium ana ths Clk provides unmarked A eros UP H heteopers to calc opium othe Hmong commander General Vang Pao rm his altered Fighiand vilages ana vanspot te dsrbuton caters at Long Tieng and Ventane. “The pressed heroin was utiately bound for American Glades In Vietnam, “rearing aoe or opm png 7%, General Vang Pao organized sabotage fray nto Cina forte CIA an old Burmese oplum to nother CIA pote, General Phouml Nosavan, poles! leader of ha Lactanrighewing ‘The economieallance between Phour and the Hmong opened up anew trading pat hat supoted iezeasnglysgnfeant quanites of Buse opium forte Fourshing Laban heroin labortores Pour had come to power in 168 when an unexpecad electoral etory by the Patel Lao rmovernen panicked the U.S. Fearing that aos might eventual tum Communist re CIA {inanced ie fermaton ef righ-ning colton, while th Sate Department plungedne ‘overnment no fecal ers by eutng of a a. Lite more than three montis ater te elation, Prime Miristor Souvanna Phoura an his rnouvafst government reigned. Anew rightwing government tok conta, declaring "We ae ant Communists” ‘The Sate Department provided funds of $3 milion a month tothe new government. Backed by th Cla, Phoum baa a cabinet minster and» general, an wth is personal CUA ‘agent aleaysby Ns sie, ploted coups, igged lectons and helped the CUA bull up ts Secret ‘my i 20s (8 lt). In sy 1962, the Unite States an the Soviet Union signed the Geneva Agreement on Lacs ‘here trminatng tht milly operaens in that chao region. Atfough American Green Betes and mary advisers were wtharawn by October as speci, te CIA dovced a number, ‘of deceptions to contre is ever aces. ‘Allofthe CIA operatives moved te afacent areas of Thailand but retuned almost eery day by haleopar or plane to tect guerita operations. cvlan personnel (not covered by the Geneva Agreements) were recuted fr clanfesne ‘operations In December 1902, fo example, CIA agent Edgar Buell anes Hmong guerits in ‘eration wcigues and dected the dynamtng of sk bldges and wate Meuran passes rear Ban Ban, ‘The U.S. Embassy decared hat A Ames fights fo Hmong vilages, which cari amaments 2 wel as refugee supplies, wore "hurantaran ai’ and a such were exempted rm he Geneva Agreements, ‘The Agency's params taining programs in Laos developed into a covert war of Unprecedented scale agai he Pthet Lao inthe northeast ofthe court, whe proving bases {erborbg raids agent Nert Vietram onthe notiwestrn border. Te CIA rected and trained a private ary ef over 3,000 mang and other Lacan tesman, ‘This group was knoun as Armes Clandestine (Sect Amy). 40 or 6 CIA ooo ran ts ‘operation itr sided by 20000 Thal mercenaries ata cota same $200 millon a oa ‘The Cid Secret Army went on the rampage twoughout nrhem Lacs, attacking Pathet Lao vilages and expanding Hrnong command operations info bordering provinces. AS each vilage ‘wae captured, fhe nabtante wre pute wor aking code landing eps, sual S00 t0 600 footiong, to receive Al America's "elugee suppes “These landing sips were then used by Ar Amica ty Hmong opium to markets in Long Tieng ‘nd Vientiane Vang Pao CUA counterpart Tony Poe later revealed that Vang Pao few heroin scrss southern aos ite cental Vina where, "he number wo guy o Present Thicu would recive it _eorge Congo pri af Cit Sr Army. ets Anan net ashy a ing sae esse see ‘twas uring this period that several key Agency players in he weapons suplynebvork othe [Nearaquan Cons inte 1960s developed he sks n dr running and secret var ‘management. CIA chit of tation Ted Shackoy excised overl command over the Agonays covet ‘operations n Laos (He later managed Operation Phocna, the CAs mass mute "pctication” ‘rogram in Vitna. ‘Shackey’s CIA deputy in Laos, Tom Clings, managed ground support sche fore war, and US. As Fore laizon Richard Secord then 3 lautonant clone supp mot of era fox ‘Ae Ameea and oer Cla propery afines ‘Shackey, Clings and Secor, together with Robert Jantzen, the CIA’ station ciein Thailand ‘and CIA fics Edwin Witzon wee ced inthe ale 1970s the Nugon Hand Bant scandal in ‘usa, which was ound tab Realy invlved rug afichig between Thala and ‘Rustaa, a5 well as money laundering and Megal weapons dea _Airlogistes forthe Laos oplum trae were futher proved in 1967 when the CA ard USAID {ge Vang Pao franca asetanceinfoming his own prvato ano, Xiong Krouarg Ar Transport “This aitne flew adstional cargoes of oplum and heroin between Long Teng and Vine ‘The Cite covert action assets were helsing heroin desler in Laos General Ouane Rattkone, commanders-chlet of he Royal Lactin Amy (he ony ‘ry nn wor, exept forthe US. Army, tat was etry Rinded by te S {goverment ood one her aboratry,whte anoter Lapian heroin laberatary £EtNam Keung was protected by Major Chao La, commander af Yaa mercenary {toops forthe CIA northwestern Las. ‘ees teg i anects Testy et ae ery Soca cog e ‘As the war against the Patt Lao progressed, Hirong losses were enormous, ‘Many Hmong wagers ha to endure repeated an long forced marches, which produced fatalities ‘ofp toa fir, and roa of he Hong iat har deste cone igh for Vang P20. They ‘ented his famtoyantexcosset sich a8 personaly executing hs own siser, salng Korn ‘he miltarypayros end ns linge to take heavy cacuatio. “The mote highly mothated Pathe Lao queria aly took contol of te county nay 1875, {casing othe formato of the People's Democrate Republcof Las. Vang Pao eto Thala {fom whore he was escorted fo Missoula, Montana the homeiown of his CIA ease cer, Jarry Danie Here, Vang Pao pli over al millon dolar for a cate ranch, ho farm and twolarge homes. ‘By the end ofthe yar, over 30,000 Hang refugees had fed across the border int Thala, the fist wave ofa mass exodus tat would peak at 8,000 month by 1878. {General Vang Pads comment was: "Wari tut, peace shell” At the same time as was launching sabotage and gurilaatacks aginst the Canmunist North ‘Vietnamece, te GIA cont Colonel ard Lansdale to South Vitam to help ntl the igh-ing regime of Ngo Bin Dim. “This was one of he Cid most uccesatl operations. Inte 1960, the Agency's various covert ation lets in Southeast Aa opened anetcrk of hel aberateres inthe area, ttchng fem southern Yunnan Province in China bo nalghbaing Burra’ Shan States, nochem Thain ang mortem Laos. This reion was common known a ‘he "Golden Triangle’ to opum and heroin fears andthe new iaboretoies began export high-grade no. 4 heroin 2 US. Woope hghng in Veta \whthin two years, army medial ocers estieted that 10 o 15%, oF 25,000 1037000 of US. solsire were regular horn uso. ‘Althe same tine, both the American Mall and Maseles's Corsean syndicates wee loking for ‘ew surese of heoin and rarphine base and moved to Saigon when toy sth he Vietnam War had opened up anew mara or them among American Gls, ‘The CIA's Sener Liaison Ofc, under the command of Edward Lansdale, worked los wit ‘South Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Cao Ks aaminlsaton during the war, and Ky was heavy ‘nvohed m narcotics ratio. ‘One of Ky strongest supporters inthe a fre, Colonel Phan Phung Tin, was cise to many (Corscan gangsters and was impcatd Inthe smugging of crugs between Lace and Vitam, However, despta knowing ts he Corscane were hea involved nthe rug rate, Lansdle took ne acten agin! tem but instead arranged a "rues" in whch he agreed io tuna bind eye {o their aces morder to void embarassment fo Premier Ky and the South Vitamese. government, which Washington was suppoding is war against the Communists nthe North ven when the U.S. Army’ Criminal investigation Division (CID) gathered detailed formation on {he South Vietnamese goverment invhemantin raficng heroin to Arerean Cl ater than acing on ts informatin, the Noon admanstraton andthe US millary commans the best fo deny both te charges ard the sea ofthe GI heroin epiem, and to shel he Seth ‘Vietnamese government fom cries. ‘tin casita Vnvion Soars any oan tr Before lng, he US. mary commandin Vein was discharging between 7,000 and 2000 GI ‘dts @ month ‘They were flown back othe United Stales and icharge almost inmatiatly. Vitualy none of ‘hem were gven any folow-p teatrent many retumed io thelr Rometouns as cold sets ‘and ace thlecommantie wt he heron lagu ‘large percentage ofthese were whe middle-ass communtles hat had previoudy aay ‘ean re tom ero adicton, In June 1971, one speciats notes “Each adele makes atest four more. He cannot bar his hab lone and issue to 00k eeu, evn iho snot sa the pusher. This Is the emergency we now ‘ace ‘Many of te dlscharged Gs tured to Vieram to set thomssives up inthe rugs todo, Fearttngaete-duty coder going home as cours, and using isa Go ship eran tothe US thugh the ermy and afore posta system. A val of heron in Viena coat ey 82; Back Inthe US. teat for $100, Ina 1870 repo the U.S. Bureau of Narco concludes that Bua, Laos and Thaland together had become the source of more han hal the wes et supply of epum “Theres te doubt hat the CIA's support othe taickers in those counties was respon for this massive grown nthe cug Wade U5. ofttls tured a tna eye to he region governments involvement inthe opium Yate, whl he CUA set was actively vated, suppying ‘mosem aera to replace mules, naval vessels to feplacesampans, and proving yess fo Internatonal ranspot fo the oplum ager ad commercial contacts to factate De marketing of the drugs. ‘Aer the withérawalof American toops fom Vieinam in 1978 the Corsican and Chose ‘Sindeats stared shipping Lactin heron det To te Unked Sates, capturing on ho the ‘American nares marie, Heroin was following the Gis home, Teens ecamp Moanuhi, the heron ntworts in Vietnam componsatod forthe loss ofthe Arercan cles by cstrbting orgs tote legions of unemployed yout, prost.tes and stoet dealers hat comprised Sigors US. camp-geerated econamy. ‘As South Viena flint a esis government comuption and economic colapse, a report {he Cia Saigon sation concuded “ifPresdentThcu continues to govern wih he suppor of corrupt ad incomaetent ten wie dca or South Vietnam to wan the stuggle aganst he ‘Communists Instad of pressing Thieu for reforms, the CIA sain chit Thomas Polger suppressed the !nermaton By the time the Nort Vetnamase captured Ssigon in March 1975, thy fund the cy of our Ilo ineluded 30,000 unempoyed 150,000 Reon aadets and'30,000 posites. Wn ont, thonew Communit rope estabishod the New You" Cobege,afeidental dug one ‘ith 1-200 beds anda yarongWeatment program ta established an 80% cure a among the sets In October 1977, amitary coup in Thaland brought General Kriangsak Chamanaa o power 3s prime minister ‘Ktangsak quicky abandoned the previous governments ant rugs poy, stating “There ‘peso be a Confit belwean Gut campaign agains narcotics and out campaign agaist be ‘Communit, and he ipso upp the CIs Kuomintang opium armies in nortan Thallnd with ams and mney, return or tar ups ‘Seeking to show the American public thats ales were no longer active in the naests indus, ‘he CA aranged a puble ceremony in ilrch 1972, st which Goneral Kriangsakaranged the bring ofthe OATS "ast 26 ons of opium forthe U.S. goverment Parating bore US. television cameras, the KMT's commander, General Li Wen-huan ae his troops dovered a hundred mul laden wth "pum and publ renounced Me ug Wade. “Te Thal itary soaked the packs with petol and set thom on fre, With covert funding om the CHA the Thai mary pad the KMT general 81 850,000 fortis act. ‘The US. Sate Department proctaimed that, refined nto heron, could have supped ha the U.S. ‘As Itumed out, he opium pyre was nee the KM lst shipment, or ently plum ta ‘ony 5 of he 26 tons hd been opium andthe balance was fodder, plant matter anc chemicals ‘Kfangsak nd tho Thal mifry command mainiained te ton at thor voops ha now etrod ‘fom the opm trade, paperng over General Li's ng-tme inks tothe CIA, wis Licontnued ‘itn hi narcotes actos ae acvey a8 ever ‘etree Sansa ‘Opium warlords such as Khun Sa came to dominate the nareatis trae in Talandin the 1980s, \Wnon the Thal goverment bowel to publ pressure and launched a itary assaut on Khun ‘a's base at San Hin Tack nea the Burmese Doren January T9E2, ey ound te se Contained a huned-bed hespta, bot, luxurious vas with swimming pools, vacation house for General Kangsak and seven heran refiners. ‘The Thal border patrol police had maintsned an outpost nly amie rom Khun Sat camp forthe past ou years bu had never istirbed he reat heroin aboaories ‘General Krangsak was the minster response during this tne ‘Despite heavy eatuates, Khun Sa‘ ores retreated acoss the border no Burma, where he ‘uty re-established the heroin aberatres fat alowed hi to conel 70% of Buma’s opm trade. Today Khun Sa, armed by the CI, trained by the KMT and prtocod bythe Burmese (goverment is probably he words most power drug ra He commands an amy of some 4,000 men armed wh MIS ifs and 50 ealbre rachine guns Inne harvest he raneprts encugh opium and erento suppl he entire annual aqurerents of ‘mois Mt rug markets "“Sreedqnra sony ost Tel borer Fes 00 ‘THE AFGHAN CONNECTION "You can say he Afghan rebels made thelr money ofthe sae of opum. Thew's no ga set The rete hepa cae ona rough he ele fim uring the mid 18705, the temporary success of sore Drug Enfororent Agency (DEA) ‘operations in Turkey, Thalard and Mexico reduced te baron Pow inte Uno’ States and cut ‘he numberof Amen adds by more than a hal Howover, the CIA's covert warare operation in Aghanstan then ransformed souhem Asia rom ‘| sel-contaned opm zone los maj Supple f Rein forte wor market Wen President Cartar reacted tothe Soviet invasion of Alghanstan a December 879 by "upping amt the mashes gue, Dr David Musto of the White House Sttegy Cound fon Drug Abuse warns "We wore going ito Afghanistan fo suppor the opium growers in thee ebelion agamst the Sovets. Shout we ry to avld what we Rad donoin 20? ‘ewe ening in beliending these bes a we did a Laos, when A Ameri, ‘harered by te Cena nieigence Agency helped transport crude oplum fom ‘tain iba areas? Shout we ty to pay the growers they wl eradicate ee ‘optim proaucton? ‘Ashorin rom Afghaisan and Pakistan suenly poured nto America thoughout 1879, Musto {oid he inte House “on he streets, this srg is moe potont. cheaper and more available than atary time inthe ast went years” and ne warned. "This css bound to worsen But Dr Musto's warnings felon deat ears ‘The DEA confirmed Musos's wos fears wih reports of a ash of cases involving he movement fide Eater eran ‘Phladephia and Washinton DC beth epete an increase of 25% in overdose Geaths curing the year, andthe rations adi population doubled in tee yar. ‘And 2s suppty suged, wholesale prices in Europe fll and putty ose to anew high ‘With ample supplies opium and morphine, Marseile's Corsican syncaos were co-operating withthe Sician Mafia fo open a new network of heron laboratories In Europe, whch hen ‘xporedherin the United States “There was worse to come, a heroin exports fom Alghaistan and Pakistan conned to Increase. Alghanstas pum producion leped fem about 100 tore in 1971 to 300 tons 1082 ‘nd 16575 ons the folowing year ‘Steet sales of arcotes inthe Unie States rose by 22% in 1080, whl cocaine sup jumped a remarkable 57% to 44 tons, worth $29 billon ‘Then came cack cocaine, which reached pandemic proprtons in America by the nid-19805. ‘Wert opium proton tpl fom an eshratod 600 fone n 1962 to 4,700 180 ADEA expert satod in June 1000: “isthe tp ofthe csberg" How ats catastrophe occur? ‘During the Nixon scnnistaton, te CA, along wih the renin secret pole SAVAK,atireted todestalize the Nghan goverment of Hafallah Amin, whch for dezades had boon allo with ‘he Soviet Union “The CIA tained and armed a 5,000-ttong army in Pansher valley, north of the espal Kabul. By [December 1079, the encroaching tres ofthe Clbackes forces and months offing Debween fal Communit tacos meant thal te colapae ofthe Alghan goverment seemos imminent “The Sovt Union sent oops it the county wo supports aly, ocsupying Kabul ad hatating @ mote plate Aghan Communist as present Jie Cater reacted wi it concealed rage, dencunced Soviet ear Leonid Bresnev, imposed a seis of economis sanctions apsinst Moscow and mobiized covert rly ad forthe rujanesin guortos. ypk Pakistan and China all agreed to help, whe Saud Arabia conbute $25 min, \Wahin weeks, massive ams shipments began hand-held missles and ant-ank weapons fom (China, Kalashakoy assault ies ror Egypt munilons om Saud Avabla and avaly of US. \weapons fromthe CA including Stnger missles. The las operation n Nghanstan was the ‘ocond ages covert arin ts 4.year Nor (Only ls secret warn Laos was bigger and more expensive, nen the fale ofthe monsson rains for two consecutiv yars reduced the Golden Tang's ‘opium proston oa record iow 1960 a nework af eran abortaies opened ong he ‘Nghar-Pakstan border o service the global markets oponed by the drought in Souheast Aaa Pakistan's opium production soared to 800 tons, dominating the European market. Pressured by {he United States sn important aly, Pestana miltany regs under Gener Zin Hag imposed [ner ug suppression eft that ove the coun sep poducon down ets ate ‘oxmal evel ot 100200 tons ‘Alghanstn's mujahedin qurilas corespendingly expanded production inthe 0708 and ‘shped tera oplim to he Aghan Pakistan bode einen for processing ini heroin ‘Soon afer President Reagan tok off in 198, the White Hose ofee a $3 in program of miiy sito General Za'e haan slam undemertalt Setar m Pestana 2 miltary ‘Quek assumed a dominant fle ln suppiyng sme othe mujanean “The CIA worked closely wth Pakistan’ Inter Service Intetigence (SI), which the Acency helped ‘olin a power caver oparaions unt and th song arm of Z's marae regime ied he Gan eos Waeig ‘During the ten years of Ci support or the mujshedin resistance agant the Sovetoccupation of ‘Agni, tne US government wat lent abou the involvement nthe heroin ae of leading ‘Aighen guerlas and tne Pakistan mir. In partular, the CIA aid wih Gubudain Hekmatyar, leader ofthe smal mujahein Hea Islam group. and over he next decade the Agency gave Hekatyar more than hafis covet i, buldng the Hes stam io the largest quer forc inthe county. Hetmayar aso used the Agency's ams gists and supporto become the regis largest tug or Within a yer the suge of his heroin production has captured ver GDM ofthe ‘mera markt eaking the ong Sg SroUgh ane rang Ames ade popaton oS previous peak: ‘An Ieamic mitt, the brutal and corupt Hokmatyar had founded the Musim Brothaood inthe ‘ary 1870s, wen his eciviles ncused depatchig folowers o tow vas of acd he faces ‘twomen sents who refused to wea veil otmatyar ales himself wth Pakistan's Jamaal Islam (Pay of tam) fundamentalist ana (quastfasist Musim group wits many members nid the Paistanlofcar corps ‘Win generous American ad of $3 bon fil (and further $2 tion covert fr the mila), Palestan alowed the CIA to conducts seeret warn Alghanstan wahout resi ‘Along the borer, the Agoncy ran traning camps forthe mujhe and in Pakistan capital, Isarabad, the CIA maintained one oft ages foregn stations fo dec he war. Genel Za ‘lowed fie CIA fo open an elon ligne cation facing te Soviet Urion innate Pasian and permed U'S. spy fights ovr te Inlan Ocean am his a bases nea the Persian Gu From the outst o he covert war in 1879, ther mujahen leadars complained thatHekatyars Hebi iam folowers were using violence to ake contel of iva reitance groups. Pakistan's 1S gave Hkiatya a re hand to rule the Aghan luge camps around Peshawar ‘nde used Reruns rin fer ‘As the mujahecn used ther now CIA munitions to capture pime acuta teas side ‘Aghanistan during he eary 1980s, the quertls ordered ta peasant supporters grew poppies, hereby doulng the county's opium harvest in year ‘Tne mujahedin sald ne piu oer refiners in Palstan wh operated under te precton of General Fie Hog, governor of he Neth West Foner provins, and an itiate ef Genel Za Feazle Hug was to aczuruate a power etune fom is, ested af several bilo dlls. Canty Ngan arate bby hesettay as sotce bys By 1088, there were an estimated 100 to 200 herin refineries in he province's Khybor tit ‘lone, Pakistan Army russ avg wih CIA ama rom Karach often returned aded wih Perla “protected rom police search by Ist papers. Both European and Pakistan pote were to ater report hat all investigations of the provine's major hem syncs, “had been aborted at the highest vel” Further sou, in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, Hekmatyar hime coneled sb nero ‘etnies thal processed te arge opium harvest fom Alghanstars frie Helmand aly. “The heroin Boom under General Zia was so large and uncontoled that drug abuse swept titan nthe early 1980s, ‘The numberof ass went rom afew hundred to more than 1.3 milion within ves years, one of ‘he word argos ckct populations. Instead of prospating wih a bonanza of U.S. al Telowing {he 1579 Sovetmvasion, Paks waa and ste ~Gestalized ty the mmanae dug ond ams ‘rte ‘Throughout this, some 17 DEA agents sat nthe US. embassy at etamabod witout making 2 imajraest or seizure - thy recognized the potential embarassment of exposing CIA operatives, ‘en thaugh they were male rug ord. ‘The batt offi corupon continued unl August 1088 when General Zs death in an air ash brought an eveetul restoration of cvilan rule. The US. State Department pal ibueto Zee, strong supporter ofan narcotics actives In Pakistan * ‘By 1989, he Cts comply in global nareaties tena allowed word opum production to muti fouroi to 4200 tonsa year ‘Snifeanty, tree quarters ofthis came from Suess Aa where the Ageny Nad worked th th regen’ dug lors fr 24 years. Most ofthe balance camo fem southern Asian opm ile ‘and heroin aboatoes conte by the CIA Agha gue cens Just a8 CIA suppor for KIT force had Increased Burma's opium crops in te 1958, so the ‘Agonay ad to he mujahedin queria expanded opum producton in lghanstan and inked ists nearby hari sbratores othe word marke [After a decade the stos of major CIA cove operations, Burma and Afghanistan ranked ‘respectively the wo’ largst and secon largest suppers a ict heron In 1988. Today, the "Golden Crescent as the oplum growing regions in Afghanistan re ela, cozount for 729 of he heroinin Weston Europe and 60% of the hein inthe US, ‘A Reagan exministation offi unt stated in 1988: “were nt gong tlt ite hing the tugs get nthe way of the police! station ‘And whan tte Soviets leave and theres no meney inthe county, snl goig to Bo ‘ny toast ie up rad “The withdraw of Soviet oops rom Afghanistan in February 1989 rested in savage ghting etwoen nl muahadincommaners forthe county's some opium lana \nen one of Hekmatya's commanders slaughtered tity members of another miphedn group, the aveay nspred the preident of he new Alghan inter government to denoures Hekate, his ow foreign mnt 36" ctminal and a teroris™ “The CIA continues to supply sms to Hekmatyar even ater te Save whdrawal nd the _Agonoys operations tuned th cout io a brooding grou fo ors, ‘Some 20 taining camps sprang upineastom Afghanistan, ain in areas unde Hekmatyar's Hezb:iam! convo teaching such sls os dematons and assassinations. Mary ofthe pacipants nthe 1988 bombing of the Weld Trade Centre had combat experince wih Felenatar's toops. Ramzi Anmed Yousef, convicted in Now York of potng to biow up eleven US. ines over ‘he Pact bragged of reoeving valning intro tacts fom the Agency's Alghan bases. ‘The infighting between the mujahosin over gaining contol ofthe herein producing raglons paves ‘he way for the ise ofthe Taban, a milan tam sect whose Tanatiom makes tke mujahedn _2ppaaralest progressive by commparson Most ofthe Taban care rm Pasiun lanes the South of Alghanistan ard mary spent yearn Madrassah (religious schol) nto refugee amps of Pakistan being ined 8s mujahedn, Ley Mohammed Oma Alun he alban viet mashed ashavng bayer ‘county by deviating tor lam. Tey even coradered he regen an (rem the val Sv Branch of sam) as dangerous Iberal and modernizing. From the outset, he CIA and Pakstars SI developed close contacts with the Taliban, In May 1996, wo sense Taliban leaders atended conference in Washington run by Senator Hank Brown, while snir U.S. iploats, mudi Robin Raphael, the Asistant Secretary of ‘State for stn eles, eget tavled to Talon nessouarre Il coors ssdand few ‘Taliban planes nthe rds on Kab heh fel fo the Tabsan mili In Septembet 1098. ‘On that ay, State Department spokesman Glyn Davies touted them 3 “the group that might finaly bring stability to Alphanistan™ John Holtzman, the CIs sation chit in Pakistan, plannod to vist Kabul a mate f ays later, ‘then the Clon administration realzed tha an mage of Washington embrecng ura ‘undamentalts could be caster wih Amercan female voor, ‘The vist was postpones. Ofte UN's 185 members, Pakstan alone rushed o recognize the Taban goverment. John Hottzman tls eperters: “The Taban can play 2 use le in ending Aighanitan's ong cl war by proving a stongcental government” ‘The sndely fat ‘The strong contral government tat the Talban povided was a vilent fundamentaism vith no parle! nthe word ope wer forced at gunpoint to sted the mosque, Women were bare fom exeation and ‘rom work Men wore oder to grow bears. Television, musi pote and even Keying Were banned. The Talban snaied mustecassties fom cas and smashed ttm wih feck by the ‘adside, Women caught exposing an inch of san pubte were boaton wih basabal ba \isington's motives in aldng the Taban wor, a5 eve, elated to US. financial terest the region ‘The US. thm Unocal and the Saud group Dela Ohad reached an agreoment withthe former Soviet republic Turkmenistan fora mul-illon dolar natural gee pene whch wuld go tough ‘Nghanstan ite Patan. ‘A fondly Taban government weuld ensure he projec feastbity and secuny- ad also help prevent he creation of a snr pipelne proposes by Pakistan and ran. Indeed, he may have boon te largest singe factor bohia the U.S. governments acceptance an continued tanding of Taliban, which has helped them achieve mitary succes aero he whole county. U.S. ofits claim tha the Tan wal ake a hard ine on nao Waking, ys date the alban have done noting to cura he county's erative oplum vad, when bing hard cash ‘and orsign exchange. As fundamentalist Mustims, the Taliban theoretcaly oppose al forms of intoxcaton, ncadng oplum smolng,butin order to protect hit support base thy have rotisod ‘to declare aban on poppy cultvaton and opus Waexng Infact he UN estated an increase in poppy culvaton and yield ia the 19056 growing season ~ ‘hen the Tasban Hed 95% ofthe area under citation - compared the previous yoo ‘THE CENTRAL AMERICAN CONNECTION "On tho basis of his evidences cea that insvtuas who provided suppot for the Contras were involved indo Waicking, he suppy network of te Conta was ‘sed by dg tacking organizations and laments of the Conta hersaves Knowingly receives franca and material seitanea rm dug waters” “SEAT Pope neatone suscommTEE On TERROR NAMEOTS AN TERUATENAL "aman str al re a paras ng Bh ae rn ty knw stay ce ‘teen ec “The Nicaraguan revolution in 1879 proved the focus of the Clas covert paramitay operations Inthe regon, which centered around an arms and drugs Vafickig conepracy IvoWing Pana, Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rea Manuel Antonio Noriega's relationship vith the United States began in 1855 when a the age of "8, jones the Panama Soest Party ana began informing on fs operatons to US. inaligencs In 1982, Norigajined he National Guard and was made chi of transit pole by Major Omar ‘Toros Herrera, who was onthe pay ofthe CIA. “Toros was also working forthe Ageny n mentoring the potental heat of Communist infiuence ‘among banana growersin Puerto Amueles and Boras del Toro. These paniaons were ores byte Une Fru Company, 2 powerul American corporation that was io @ CIA Ton In 1067, the CIA sent Novag to study itligence and couner-nligence st Fort lick in Panama olowed by pojchological operations at Fort Bragg in September 1867, ard mitry Inteigence vaining athe notous School of Americas at Fort Benning mn Georgia. ‘Altre October 1968 coup which overtrew President Armuiflo Arias and brought Tres to power n Panama, Noroga was promotn to leutenat colonel and made head oft county’ ftaryItatigence (62), which he ansiormed naa sophisatedratonal py svc. In mi 1870, Noriega became a member ofthe Countrnligence and Couneresionage ‘Gxganisation, an nteatonal network of neigence agencies. ‘Over the years, the CIA pid Noriega more han $11 millon, The money was viualy ‘Unsccnuntable nthe Clas busge wes ofcily sted a “support for elon co ‘paraion but fact was ssh fund ured oer to Noriega todo Wh a he ceded, Torres ‘3h Novega commenced rave covert arms networkin Panam, ih the Blessng and Suppor ofthe CIA Factions valved in vtualy every wal confit operated ou ote county eral was cis amongst them, sting thir rms fest to Somoza, then to the Guatemalan mary Aetatorsip and iter to the Cons US. ofits nad herd evidence of Noriega extensive Inks to dug tracking an urnan ihits \laons as eary as 1871, yl overy administration om Nixons nwa Ignored he evidence tnd condoned hie acivles. "Norge was hes involv inthe tidal wave of Colombian cocaine sweeping into America “The Medetin drug cartel (a high-orgarized consorium of Colombian cocaine brokers wth an annual income ested et $8 lion) paid Noriega vast sus of money for alwing them acess {o secure atips and ara n Panama, for making certain hat actos and immation fas asked no questons, er laundering ug pts though Panamanian barks and for ‘towing wanted vatioer to remain inthe county ‘Washington's desi to negotiate @ new Panama Canal Treaty ldo long haneymaon betwen ‘heUS. and Panama. Toa great extent, the vale n Congress onthe Panama Cand Treaty was perceived as reerescim on drug desing ‘Atormer Senate Inttigence Commitee member rca om tat peo: “we hada very complete picture. We knew about the drug problem And the Panamanians new we knew Once we raed th Treaty, he Panamanns got ‘he word thatthe United States was open forthe drug business ‘Another US. ofa aid at he tne "We had drugs -and Novoga lover he pace” (On December th 1076, Noriega traveled to Washington D.C where he fst made the soquaintance of George Bush, the Orector ofthe CIA. ‘Wen Bush le this poston te folowing year he seta eter to Noriega, arkinghin fr his assstance. Another contact between the two came wen Bosh became Ves Presa Noriega sent eter of congraltions and Bush sent a epy (ated December Zr 1980) syne “Thanks forte rea congratulatory message" and: "I hope our path wil rss agan” Nviga thved as never before under the Carter administration. He provide a haven in Panama for he Shah ofan whe Cater was seeking te leas of the “American hostages held in ran, and when he Sariisas took over Nearagua in 1078, Neroga provided the CIA wit te most epular and rlabl nllgence about tem. “Toros too was inveed in tl) efor to preserve Somazas Natonal Guard a6 3 counterbalance to total Sandinista contol of he county. 1 Carter needed Noriega 8 end in Panama to srooth the way toa Panama Canal Treaty, Reagan (who strongly opposed that teal) nooded int super the ant Sandhniza cause. The Geatucton ofthe Nearaguan government became the ughest poly of Washington, The og ‘iano launch the covet war against the Nicaraguan government was drafted by G2oge Buss long-time feng, former CIA offeer Donald Gregg, ‘Gregg oversaw the operation trough his tustod ond Felx Rodriguez (aes Max Gomez), an ‘ant:Communst Cuban-American CIA operave anda omer CIA seeuy sie” Galva, (tn 1967 Rodigues was the head of he CA-backed Balan oops who captured nd led Che ‘Guevara, the Cuban evolutenary leader) ‘Pessoa nce ofbelnes oop esbergee nes Paso Sarge ss ‘she Dream Serr sn Goran Sh, areca Wom Ce) and We He ct SS og ‘The official $4.6 milion budget fom the Natonal Sacurty Coun forthe ani Sandhista operation was supplemented by anaer$25 mien tom the Pelagon and CIA mh of that went fo 8 Socet organization presided over by Gacrge Bush, named the Criss Management Dene, which ‘was safed bya platoon efmltary specal operat ofc George Bue fice was he canta command post othe whole operation, CIA Director Wiliam Casey found a way o tke acton agains te Sandinista with the lp of the ‘rgentneans. The CUA had enter lose elations wih the fase una neraewho red ‘Argentina (the Agency had helped et up the county's itary iligence} ‘Argentina began taining about a thousand men, most formar Somazan Natonal Guards, into an ‘nt: Gandiitaporamiltary sry, nor of te Nearaguan border nonras. These were the frees whe wauld become krowm as he Contas. ‘Argantnaappcinied ts miltary ineligence chet as ambassador 'o Panama to cordate he ‘operation. Argentine itary ieligence oftals were aso assigned to Mam te eranze airing ‘amps fer Conta guar, n parler he fright Apna 68 and Omega In each of the counties whore thoy setup training units for he Contras, the Argentine cisers tenoauroged the use of volanes and politcal azessrnatons Leonardo Sanchez Relsse, a leading member of he AgentneInligence un ks¥m a Batalon 61, was pun charge of fnancing te Flerda forces and, “euyng special equipment that coud not be acquired through normal channel." Roles recrultes, amongst cers, Wo key snt-Communst Cubans io he Argentine taining ‘apparatus: Jose Suarez who became a ht man fhe Colombian cocaine Mafia, end Fo Rosiguez Meanwhile the overthrow of Honduran President Melgar in “cocaine coup i 1978, which brought Genera Paz Garcia o power, paved the way or an allance ofthe mia, fhe cru oes land he CIA e support ie Contra rom bases In Honduras ‘The key fancior behind the coup was Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros, known as ‘ci of he Honaon Mata = “Jimmy Carters adinsraton chose to overtook ts knowledge of Matt's major nua ‘ights abuses and he importation of hal biion doar woth of cocaine int the ries States ‘each year because he supporad the struggle sgainst the Sandinstas. U.S. economic assistance te Honduras tiple rom 1978 t0 1860, makin fhe largest repent of American feign ain Central America In March 1980, President Cater even hosted General Paz at he White House. ‘Te CIA relied totaly on he cocaine-ralickng itary of Honduras to backs plans to overthrow the Sandia Forth flowing too yoars, Matta and Paz worka hard in hang with the army to Suid Honduras up as an eve anjer cocaine fckng cent “The facts f you want to go into the subversion business, collect Inteligence and move arm, you deal with drug movers” “GENERAL PAUL. CORMAN suming up the roto fo the CRS choice felons Cra Aerie. “Iiblieved inthe Contras war at fist: But about 1982 the gun runing {nd the drug running blurred together and the war eventually Became a busines. ended up running drugs on behalf ofthe U.S. government. Perec” ROBERT PLUMLEE, Contra resupply pet In the wake of evolations of massacres and other aeies cared out bythe Contas against [Nicaraguan clans, the U.S. Congress passed tho Bland Arenctnent hn December 1802, when ofzaly probed the CiA om engaging In acSons to overthrow the Naraquan| government. “Thus, the use of covert drug money to help the Cons funding problems tok onan oven rester appeal to the Unted Stats Tie was in completo coast fo Preise Reagan's Imuet-iaunted antarug posting forthe Amercan publ’ boat '8y this time, C1A payments o Manvel Nriega had sen to $200.00 a year, Noveg contributed §5100,000 1 Conta ears besed n Cota Fic, stupa onto eeaben an sires Cota, Flea fer spying the Conta nd supple poss to smuggle weapons tote Contas, ‘The Panamanian a eargo company Aviones de Paname, run by three of Noige' personal picts, Gosar Rodriguez. Floyd Carton and Enrique Pret few weapons fom Panama to bases In Costa Re or Gana operatons on the Souer Font ‘Thay dropped othe guns at Costa Ria, retuled, and ow ono U.S. bates in Sosth Faia, loaded wah cocaine and under he rtecion ef the IA. ‘Noriega algo helped train Contra units in Panama, an tie, a the CAs urging to persuade ‘Southern Front Contra leader Eden Pastra 0 unte wih the FON Contras the man Corea frce \whicn was ound and operated by the Clk DEA staché Thomas Teles met wth Noega to arrange Panama's asitance nage scale Undercover maney laundering Wont operations to deguse the fnancing ofthe Contes Panama, a x haven with one of he Westar Herisphor'sghtost bank secrecy ws, Wa a favored Spot stash et drug pros, “Ismuggled my shore of illegal substances, but | ato smugalec my share of weapons to the Contras in exchange, withthe full Irnowiedge and support ofthe DEA and the CIA” contra resupply lt In Honduras, Matas ane SETCO- provided a ranpar forthe Honduran-basedFDN Contes, ‘by 1884, the ane had become te Contra group's chet mover of supple, persomel and narcotics. Tha FON paid for ase servces tough bank accounts established by LI Ca Olver North ofthe National Secu Counc. In 1961, wo Cla hocked Nisraguans - Norwin Meneses (nicknamed El Rey de a Droge, “he King af Orgs, who had lose es othe Colomean earl) and Danilo Bandon (2 Somors| Supporter who fed to Ameria when the tats regime was ovrtown bythe Sends) feu to Honduras to meet Colonel Ennque Bermudez, be oficor in charge ofthe FON Contras. ‘Tete, they planned how hey cou use the Contras sug operations fo rie funds Bandon ratumed to Los Angles and bepanseling coca o Ricky “Freeway” Ross, a22yearai tect {eater wit bs othe Crip street gang in Le Angeles. ‘The two Nicaraguans receved regular shipments of 200-400 Klos of cocaine rom be Contras. Bandon soit Ross 100 klos a week, whien Ross brewed in crack mretaurant-skod vats and ‘moved 323 malon worth daly. Th profs owed tothe Contras va a bank chain Flonda A he same time, Meneses supplied cocaine to sires gangs inthe San Fransece Eay aren, Because the Nicaraquans pies were wel blow normal costs, Ross quickly becane a major alr wih broad inlunce over the spoad of crack n Los Angols.landon was sng oo rch ‘rack hatter his arrest, te federal prosecute, La, O'Neal, said was" te sale of ‘mandatory senencng guidelines Biandon was described as "he biggest Nicaraguan cocaine dealer inthe United Sts." while ‘Roce wat widely considered tobe he fst raskedesung mona oes rom the svete of ‘South Cental Los Angeles ogee, Slandon and Ross created a al wave of crack that swept no low-acone American neighborhoods inte mi 70808 ‘The black communty was ravaged by a drug ess of histo proportons, resting n “rack babies, record drug overdoses, unprecedered numbers of black rao youth naterations ise ImAlDS and numarocs other ations. [3 2 Largely due to he CAs ets, Latin American cocaine exports othe United States escalated to ‘sls of $29 illon dung the 10808 Jack Blum, special counsel tothe Subcommitse on Tevism, Nace an intsatona ‘Operations tothe Senate Foreign Relations Commie investigating te Cis lnksto Contra cack smugging, lesbed a Osobe 1966. “we nad adctions an problems inthe mid 80s andi the eary 90 ecto yards across Amorica Ilan mater wha coor you were, where You were fom, ‘aha yournatonal ong was, ‘The problam became more acute the Alcan Amerancorsmunty because the

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