Secret ties between cia, drugs revealed for nearly a decade the cia, helped spread crack cocaine in black ghettos. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy. Black gangs used their profits to buy automatic weapons, sometimes from one of the cia linked drug dealers. Oig analysis of allegations regarding blandons and meneses relationship with the contras and the cia. Was it true the cia targeted the black community with the. For nearly a decade the cia spread crack cocaine in black.
In the 1980s the cia flooded the black community with crack cocaine as a means of funding the rightwing insurgency in nicaragua but also as a way of attacking the power of the black community. The coronavirus crisis in seattle is a major threat to the strangers ability to keep the city informed. Drugs, the black community and the american judicial system. Crack cocaine was popularized because of its affordability, its immediate euphoric effect, and its high profitability. The drug business is very different than what we dreamed, he continues.
The cia, crack cocaine and the black community fcn. Ciacontracrack cocaine controversy table of contents. Secret ties between cia, drugs revealed the final call. Figure 2 presents national time series data by race for fetal. When one reads the reports about the denials of the cia co.
Measuring crack cocaine and its impact by roland g. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia. Ah come on man, i need a bit of evidence to believe that. The effects of crack in the black community by natoya. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yes and the charge. The first article also made other specific allegations of cia knowledge of, or involvement in, the drug rings activities.
Measuring crack cocaine and its impact harvard university. Why did the cia introduce crack into the black community. Did the cia play a role in launching the crack cocaine epidemic. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was involved in cocaine trafficking during the 1980s. Both crack and cocaine are derived from the same type of coca plant. Here are 10 things to know about gary webb and his report that linked the cia to crack cocaine. Snowfall is a onehour drama set against the infancy of the crack cocaine epidemic and its. Neighborhoods and families were severely impacted by this epidemic. Cia, crack cocaine and the african american community. Hello reddit, i was doing a little research on the crack epidemic of the 1980s and from what i read the cia introduce crack cocaine to the u. In this episode, chris calton explains how the potent mix of politicans and fake news created the myth of the crack baby. Join various community speakers as they discuss this history, its impact and meaning today, as well. Powder cocaine is the most pure form of the drug, containing the most pure ingredients and derives.
The crack epidemic in the united states was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between the early 1980s and the early 1990s. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come. On october 5, 1986, a plane loaded with supplies for the contras, financed by private benefactors, was shot down by nicaraguan soldiers. The office of public affairs opa is the single point of contact for all inquiries about the central intelligence agency cia. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yes. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yesand the charge. While working for the san jose mercury news, gary webb had discovered the cia contra connection in california in the mid1990s, while investigating the crack cocaine epidemic within the black community. Probe to begin into allegations cia sold crack to fund contras by michael a. A series of expose articles in the san jose mercurynews by reporter gary webb told tales of a drug. The invention of crack represented a technological innovation that dramatically widened.
Webb later agreed in an interview that there was no hard evidence that the cia as an institution or any of its agentemployees carried out or profited from drug trafficking. During the 1980s, the war on drugs became defined by cocaine and crack. Why did the cia introduce crack into the black community in. The subject of todays hearings involves the allegations of cia in volvement in the u. While much of the cia contradrug story had been revealed years ago in the press and in congressional hearings, the mercury news series added a crucial missing link. Cia developed crack to kill off blacks the conspiracy blog. The invention of crack represented a technological innovation that dramatically widened the availability and use of cocaine in inner cities. Your worst fears are true the cia did help to smuggle drugs into american ghettos, says an investigative reporter, webb was asked whether his story had confirmed the suspicion within the black community that the crack cocaine epidemic might be part of a. Cnn cia admits it overlooked contras links to drugs. October 21, 1996 though evidence is thin, tale of c. In the book he indicated that the cia had knowledge that the contras of nicaragua was smuggling cocaine into the united states to be sold and used as crack in order for them to finance their war against the sandinistas. Numerous african american families have struggled for generations with persistent poverty, especially in the inner city.
The crack epidemic that once ravaged black neighborhoods. One american, eugene hasenfus, claimed while in custody that he worked for the cia. African american research center bibliographies conspiracy theory in the black community. The severelydistressed african american family in the crack. Crack, the cia and black americas drug crisis the final call. The effects of crack in the black community by natoya dunmore. Is there any truth to the claim that the cia peddled drugs to black communities in the 70s and 80s.
Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. Probe to begin into allegations cia sold crack to fund. Conspiracy theories can often ring true the washington post. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. Cia funnels drugs into poor us neighborhoods 6 jan, 2011 19. As involvement with the fall of the black panther party and the african american community essay.
For many, crack use became an obsession, dominated their lives, and superseded family responsibilities. We read every letter, fax, or email we receive, and we will convey your comments to cia officials outside opa as appropriate. Though evidence is thin, tale of cia and drugs has a life of its own. That once ravaged black neighborhoods didnt get the same sympathy as todays opioid. Ciacontracrack cocaine controversy department of justice. Crack epidemic, the significant increase in the use of crack cocaine, or crack, in the united states during the early 1980s. The cocaine that flooded in helped spark a crack explosion in urban america and provided the cash and connections needed for l. The cia crack cocaine drug trade exposa internet archive. A year ago after hurricane katrina destroyed most of new orleans, kanye west awkwardly and emotionally blurted out george bush doesnt care about black people on live television, it did more than rattle mike meyers and draw the usual indignation of media talkingheads. Did the cia sell drugs to american dealers to destroy the. These conditions were further strained during the 1980s and 1990s by the widespread use of crack cocaine. To understand the problem blacks face with crack vs. Apr 25, 2007 the first article also made other specific allegations of cia knowledge of, or involvement in, the drug rings activities.
Blandon and meneses were said to have used their drug trafficking profits to help fund the contra armys war effort. For nearly a decade the cia helped spread crack cocaine in black ghettos. Webb had painted a destructive picture of the cia, blatantly accusing them of practically lighting the crack cocaine fuse. These drug purveyors were allegedly injecting the black community with crack cocaine and killing off the community. Central intelligence agency to the introduction of crack cocaine into black neighborhoods with drug profits used to fund the cia backed nicaraguan contra army in the early 1980s. A s involvement with the fall of the black panther party and the african american community essay. He wrote a fourpart series for the san jose mercury news, which eventually became the book, dark alliance. Allegations of a cia connection to crack cocaine epidemic. This gave rise to gangs, tore black neighborhoods apart, and contributed to the massive international drug mafia we have today. The cia has always stated they were never directly involved in cocaine shipments to the usa, but, this is legalese on par with i did not have sex with that women and i never inhaled. These drug purveyors were allegedly injecting the black community with.
Crack cocaine, swept throughout the us in the 1980s as an inexpensive and easily accessible drug. Aaron dixon, the former seattle chapter captain for the black panther party, is writing a book on the impact of crack cocaine on black communities. Freeway ricky ross and the cia cocaine conspiracy sanjiv b. Investigative reporter gary webb linked the cia to americas introduction to crack cocaine. Aug 27, 2016 the cocaine on board of the plane belonged to the sinaloa cartel and was purchased with the aid of a cia asset named nelson urrego, while the person who sold the plane to the sinaloa cartel, greg smith, was a pilot who previously had worked with the fbi, dea and cia in targeting colombian cocaine traffickers. In 1996 the agency was accused of being a crack dealer. Gray webb was a investigative journalist for the san jose mercury news.
Central intelligence agency to the introduction of crack cocaine into black neighborhoods with drug profits used to fund the ciabacked nicaraguan contra army in the early 1980s. Other government reports central intelligence agency. Little did they know that the cia was using them as pawns in a larger scheme by allowing the more affordable drug to come into their neighborhood. Pablo escobars son reveals his dad worked for the cia. Mar 17, 2016 freeway rick ross on how he introduced crack to the u. Many had long been involved with the cia and drug trafficking they used contra planes and a costa ricanbased shrimp company, which laundered money for the cia, to move cocaine to the u. People that use crack experience increased heart rate, and often dont eat or sleep. African americans, particularly in the inner cities of the united states, have. Back in 1996, gary webb of the san jose mercury news broke a story stating not only that the nicaraguan contras supported by the united states in a rebellion against their leftleaning government were involved in the us crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, but also that the cia knew and turned a blind eye to the operation. Aug 30, 2012 webb had painted a destructive picture of the cia, blatantly accusing them of practically lighting the crack cocaine fuse.
Crack is not just a black problem, and america is the only country on the planet where crack is associated with black people, so i guess it started in that late 1970s disco culture to the beginning of the uberinclusive 1980s culture. The cia sold drugs to anybody regardless of the race. Others however argued that this is not true and that its some. Then his dark alliance series for the san jose mercury news claimed to have unearthed damning evidence showing that the central. According to the article, contra financiers had allegedly met with cia agents both before and while cocaine, in crack form, was being sold in.
The cia, the contras, and the cocaine explosion webb, gary, waters, maxine on. I n a scene from the new movie kill the messenger, investigative reporter. Thousands of young black men are serving long prison sentences for selling cocaine a drug that was virtually unobtainable in black neighborhoods before members of the cia. A smokable cocaine which was three times cheaper and moved to the streets faster than police could catch it or realize what it was. A widely read newspaper series leads many americans to believe cia is guilty of at least complicity, if not conspiracy, in the outbreak of crack cocaine in americas inner cities. Webbs series led to three federal investigations, none of. Over the years, african americans have been accused of being a culturally suspicious group to a fault. Aaron dixon, the former seattle chapter captain for the black panther. Gary webb on the cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion, audio interviews 19971998 with gary webb from democracy now. Did the cia really introduce cocainecrack to the u.
The charges of cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking were revived in 1996, when a newspaper series by reporter gary webb in the san jose mercury news claimed that the trafficking had played an important role in the creation of the crack cocaine drug problem in the united states. Kanye, crack cocaine and the truth the new black magazine. However, with limited staff and resources, we simply cannot respond to all who write to us. The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb. It gives the user a short intense high that leaves them craving for more. Crack epidemic united states history 1980s britannica. It is one of the most addictive drugs in its market. Nov 03, 1998 cia admits it overlooked contras links to drugs.
On board were weapons and other lethal supplies and three americans. Crack cocaine is a smoked version of cocaine that provides a short, but extremely intense, high. Did the cia really introduce cocaine crack to the u. Ricky ross, oscar danilo blandon, and norwin meneses. Members of the congressional black caucus thursday called for federal investigations into allegations that the central intelligence agency was instrumental in introducing crack cocaine into black communities in the 1980s as part of a plan to raise money. Cia funnels drugs into poor us neighborhoods rt usa news. Conspiracy theory in the black community african american.
Before crack cocaine, blacks identified themselves as a people tied together, whether they were in brazil, america, jamaica, or haiti, the activist. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy studies. 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 cias office of the inspector general. Tribute to dark alliance and journalist gary webb, transcripts of a 1997 webb speech and interview from san francisco bay area independent media center. Others however argued that this is not true and that its some sort of liberal agenda to demonize reagans term. For nearly a decade the cia spread crack cocaine in black neighborhoods to fund their proxi nicaraguan contra army. The crack epidemics impact on black communities 91.
Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum rt. Was it true the cia targeted the black community with the drug crack cocaine. The crack epidemic had particularly devastating effects. Crack is a freebase form of the drug cocaine that can be smoked. The impact of crack on black america, 19842010 by daniel ryan davis crack cocaine has negatively impacted the african american community in a multitude of ways. Black legislators and community leaders demanded answers.