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@ -38,33 +38,33 @@ Within weeks DEA agent Sandra Smith spotted Cabezas picking up two L.A. drug dea
### The Contra Cocaine Connection
Cabezas's cocaine came from two sources: Álvaro Carvajal Minota, a Colombian in San Francisco connected to the nascent [[Cali Drug Cartel]]; and a Costa Rican source that supplied higher-quality Peruvian cocaine. It was the Peruvian cocaine, Cabezas said, that belonged to the Contras.[^2]
Cabezas's cocaine came from two sources: Álvaro Carvajal Minota, a Colombian in San Francisco connected to the nascent [[Cali Drug Cartel]]; and a Costa Rican source that supplied higher-quality Peruvian cocaine. It was the Peruvian cocaine, Cabezas said, that belonged to the Contras.[^2]
In December 1981, Zavala sent Cabezas to Costa Rica to meet two of [[Norwin Meneses]]'s associates: [[Horacio Pereira]], a drug dealer and gambler known as "La Burra," and [[Troilo Sanchez|Troilo Sánchez]], a playboy brother of [[FDN]] leaders [[Aristides Sanchez|Aristides]] and [[Fernando Sanchez|Fernando Sánchez]]. Cabezas told [[Central Intelligence Agency]] investigators this meeting "was the genesis of an effort to raise money for the Contras by selling drugs."[^2]
In December 1981, Zavala sent Cabezas to Costa Rica to meet two of [[Norwin Meneses]]'s associates: [[Horacio Pereira]], a drug dealer and gambler known as "La Burra," and [[Troilo Sanchez|Troilo Sánchez]], a playboy brother of [[FDN]] leaders [[Aristides Sanchez|Aristides]] and [[Fernando Sanchez|Fernando Sánchez]]. Cabezas told [[Central Intelligence Agency]] investigators this meeting "was the genesis of an effort to raise money for the Contras by selling drugs."[^2]
Horacio Pereira told Cabezas he was representing [[UDN-FARN]] and the FDN in Costa Rica and that the CIA would control the delivery of the money. When Pereira grew suspicious of Zavala's drinking and money management, he cut Zavala out and insisted Cabezas personally handle the Contra money. Cabezas agreed to a 50/50 profit split with Zavala in exchange for assuming financial responsibility.[^2]
Cocaine from Costa Rica was smuggled inside woven Peruvian baskets. Each basket contained about a kilo of cocaine hidden inside wax-coated strings within the framework. Cabezas personally brought back twelve kilos during the first part of 1982, earning about $17,000. He told CIA inspectors that "Contra mules, typically airline flight attendants" were also bringing baskets into the United States.[^2]
Cabezas delivered drug money directly to FDN leader Aristides Sanchez at the Contras' [[Miami]] offices in a shopping center near the airport, and to Horacio Pereira or FDN logistics officer Joaquín "Pelón" Vega in [[Honduras]]. On average, Cabezas carried $64,000 on each of his twenty trips to [[Central America]], and once helped deliver about $250,000 to Pereira and Sánchez.[^2]
Cabezas delivered drug money directly to FDN leader Aristides Sanchez at the Contras' [[Miami]] offices in a shopping center near the airport, and to Horacio Pereira or FDN logistics officer Joaquín "Pelón" Vega in [[Honduras]]. On average, Cabezas carried $64,000 on each of his twenty trips to [[Central America]], and once helped deliver about $250,000 to Pereira and Sánchez.[^2]
### Meeting with CIA Agent "Iván Gómez"
### Meeting with CIA Agent "Iván Gómez"
In April or May 1982, Pereira and Troilo Sánchez introduced Cabezas to a man calling himself [[Ivan Gomez|Iván Gómez]], who identified himself as the CIA's "man in Costa Rica." Gómez told Cabezas he was there to "ensure that the profits from the cocaine went to the Contras and not into someone's pocket." Cabezas saw Gómez only once more, in late summer 1982.[^2]
In April or May 1982, Pereira and Troilo Sánchez introduced Cabezas to a man calling himself [[Ivan Gomez|Iván Gómez]], who identified himself as the CIA's "man in Costa Rica." Gómez told Cabezas he was there to "ensure that the profits from the cocaine went to the Contras and not into someone's pocket." Cabezas saw Gómez only once more, in late summer 1982.[^2]
### Arrest and Testimony
On February 15, 1983, federal agents raided fourteen locations in the San Francisco area. Cabezas, his mother, and numerous others were arrested. Cabezas's attorney advised him to cooperate, and he became a government witness against Julio Zavala.[^2]
At Zavala's trial in late 1984, Cabezas testified under oath that drug profits were going to the Contras. Pages from his ledger books showing cocaine transactions with Contra official Fernando Sánchez were introduced into evidence. Zavala was convicted. Cabezas's testimony went unchallenged—and unreported. Though San Francisco media had extensively covered the arrests, not a single reporter covered the trial.[^2]
At Zavala's trial in late 1984, Cabezas testified under oath that drug profits were going to the Contras. Pages from his ledger books showing cocaine transactions with Contra official Fernando Sánchez were introduced into evidence. Zavala was convicted. Cabezas's testimony went unchallenged and unreported. Though San Francisco media had extensively covered the arrests, not a single reporter covered the trial.[^2]
Cabezas pleaded guilty to drug charges in 1984 and served several years in prison. He later returned to Managua and was practicing law there as of 1998.[^1]
### Post-Series Interview
In December 1996, journalist [[Georg Hodel]] located Cabezas in Managua. Cabezas admitted on the record that he had delivered millions of dollars in drug money to the Contras and identified CIA agent Ivan Gómez as having direct knowledge of the operation. He provided names, dates, amounts, and pages from his drug ledgers. "We've got it," Hodel told [[Gary Webb]]. "Cabezas is willing to talk on the record."[[^3]
In December 1996, journalist [[Georg Hodel]] located Cabezas in Managua. Cabezas admitted on the record that he had delivered millions of dollars in drug money to the Contras and identified CIA agent Ivan Gómez as having direct knowledge of the operation. He provided names, dates, amounts, and pages from his drug ledgers. "We've got it," Hodel told [[Gary Webb]]. "Cabezas is willing to talk on the record."[[^3]
In 1987, Cabezas had written to [[Doyle McManus|McManus]] of the [[Los Angeles Times|L.A. Times]] after McManus reported there was "no supporting evidence" for Contra drug allegations, telling the reporter: "I am going to tell you that there was indeed 'supporting evidence,' hidden by the government." Cabezas described his trip to Costa Rica with $250,000 and noted the FBI made no attempt to stop him despite his traveling with an FBI informant. He also told McManus the FBI had tape-recorded conversations between Fernando Sánchez, Troilo Sánchez, and himself about drug transactions. McManus replied asking Cabezas to substantiate his "allegations" and inquired about Sandinista drug trafficking. Cabezas sent documents about the Contras and never heard from McManus again.[^3]
In 1987, Cabezas had written to [[Doyle McManus|McManus]] of the [[Los Angeles Times|L.A. Times]] after McManus reported there was "no supporting evidence" for Contra drug allegations, telling the reporter: "I am going to tell you that there was indeed 'supporting evidence,' hidden by the government." Cabezas described his trip to Costa Rica with $250,000 and noted the FBI made no attempt to stop him despite his traveling with an FBI informant. He also told McManus the FBI had tape-recorded conversations between Fernando Sánchez, Troilo Sánchez, and himself about drug transactions. McManus replied asking Cabezas to substantiate his "allegations" and inquired about Sandinista drug trafficking. Cabezas sent documents about the Contras and never heard from McManus again.[^3]
### Footnotes