Cocaine Part 5: Crack, Contras, and the CIA

Many of us have heard some version of this story, often oversimplified and misconstrued by Hollywood or the mainstream media, content to ignore primary sources in favor of demonizing the drug user. The truth as told by those who lived it goes like this.

In the early 1980s, the CIA coordinated cocaine trafficking operations in order to fund a violent paramilitary group attempting to topple the Nicaraguan government. A significant portion of that product was sold to enterprising drug dealers at bargain prices who processed it into crack, bringing devastation to LA's South Central neighborhood and beyond.

Between August 18th and 20th 1996, Gary Webb published a groundbreaking series of articles titled Dark Alliance, which shed light on this whole affair and brought millions of people to the same conclusion.

On the 30 year anniversary of this historic exposé, we're discussing Webb's findings in detail, outlining how and why the CIA trafficked cocaine into the United States, the key players involved in the explosion of the crack trade, and the devastating repercussions for black communities nationwide.

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Written Sources:

Thomas W. Walker, "Nicaragua: The Land of Sandino" [1981]

Gary Webb, "Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion" [1998]

D. Bruce Hicks in Presidential Studies Quarterly, "Presidential Foreign Policy Prerogative After the Iran-Contra Affair: A Review Essay" [1996]

PsychonautWiki, "Cocaine"

Rachel Bannarasee for Chef's Resource, "How to Cook Cocaine into Crack?" [2024]

Rick Ross and Cathy Scott, "Freeway Rick Ross: The Untold Autobiography" [2014]

Donna M. Hartman and Andrew Golub in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, "The Social Construction of the Crack Epidemic in the Print Media" [1999] https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.1999.10471772

Peter Kornbluh for Columbia Journalism Review, "The Storm over 'Dark Alliance'" [1997]

The New York Times (Editorial), "The Mercury News Comes Clean" [1997]

Nicholas Dujmovic in Studies in Intelligence, "Managing a Nightmare: CIA Public Affairs and the Drug Conspiracy Story"

Ryan Grim, Matt Sledge, and Matt Ferner for HuffPost, "Key Figures in CIA-Crack Cocaine Scandal Begin to Come Forward" [2014]

Congressional Record, "Proceedings and Debates on CIA and Drug-Trafficking Allegations," 105th Congress [March 18, 1997]

Audio Sources:

CIA Director John Deutch in South Central L.A. 1996.

Freeway Ricky Ross on Rappers Stealing His Name

Gary Webb on Democracy Now

Disclaimer

This podcast addresses sensitive subjects, including drugs, addiction, and related topics. The information presented is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice.

The hosts and guests are not licensed medical professionals. Do not rely on any information discussed in this podcast to make decisions regarding your health or well-being without first consulting a qualified healthcare provider.

Discussion of drugs, their effects, or methods of consumption does not imply endorsement, encouragement, or promotion by the producers, hosts, guests, or affiliated parties. The producers, hosts, guests, and affiliated parties are not liable for any damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Engage with the content responsibly, critically, and with an open mind. If you or someone else is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please seek professional help immediately.