United States

The United States was the destination for thousands of tons of Cocaine trafficked through CIA-connected networks during the Contra war, and the site of the crack epidemic that devastated inner-city communities.¹

Contra Cocaine Pipeline

Norwin Meneses and Danilo Blandón operated a cocaine distribution network that moved drugs from Colombia through Central America into the United States. Blandón was the first major trafficker to establish a direct connection between Colombian cocaine sources and South Central L.A. street gangs. Ricky Ross then distributed the cocaine nationwide through the Crips and Bloods networks.²

Secret 1982 Agreement

From 1982 to 1995, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Justice Department operated under a secret agreement that exempted CIA assets from drug crimes reporting requirements. During this period, the government could assert there was "no evidence" of CIA-connected drug trafficking because no one was legally required to report it. CIA Inspector General Fred Hitz testified before Congress that the CIA "did not, in an expeditious or consistent fashion, cut off relationships with individuals supporting the Contra program who were alleged to have engaged in drug trafficking activity," including trafficking within the United States.³

Law Enforcement

Federal agencies including the DEA, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Customs possessed extensive intelligence about Contra-connected drug trafficking but were prevented from acting on it. Multiple investigations were shut down, evidence was destroyed, and informants were discredited or imprisoned.⁴