CIA’s secret Operations worldwide and drug money

Sun, 2009-02-22 03:02

By Farzana Shah

In Afghanistan US/NATO put blame on Taliban for the poppy cultivation in Afghanistan for financing their resistance to allied


forces. Ironically, it was only in Taliban era when the world had seen a sharp decline in opium crop in Afghanistan. Taliban


banned opium cultivation nationwide. A more important question is how and when this business of drug production and trafficking


started in region? CIA has been using drug money since long to generate money to support its operations all over the world. It did


not start in Afghanistan it was brought here after experimenting somewhere else.

This is something which is not a lead story in international media for obvious reasons despite the fact it is harming millions of


lives around the globe.

1. CIA's secret Operations

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on of the most active and dynamic intelligence setups in the world needs massive amount of money


to carry on its clandestine operations all over the world. It has happened when CIA used local sources to conduct a coups,


assassinations, regime change, etc. As US has a long history to support democracy by hook and crook measures, until and unless a


dictator is ready to serve US interests to prolong its rule.

Operations like the one completed in Iran in 1953 to remove Prime Minister Mussadaq and backing Shah's regime by using assets


in civil society, or in Iraq in 1975 to arm Iraqi Kurds to destabilize Pre-Saddam in Iraq or more recently using its assets in


Pakistan to pave the way of direct US intervention in Pakistan under pretext of hunting Al-Qaeda.

These kinds of operations need a lot of financial input. Usually CIA arranges revenue from its own means for this kind of


operations where expenses can't be predicted by any measure. Funds from Whitehouse always need a complete audit and detailed


reports about usage of these funds. There are numerous occasions when CIA never shared details of operations with its own


analytical wing nor with any other public office in Washington. Most of the time it is drug money that compensates these expenses.

CIA operations are not only single expenditure fulfilled by drugs there are also other deficiencies which are compensated with


this money like financial institutes and banks in current financial crisis. UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa based in


Vienna revealed that drug money often became the only available capital when the crisis spiraled out of control last year.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had found evidence that "inter bank loans were funded by money that


originated from drug trade and other illegal activities," Costa was quoted as saying. There were "signs that


some banks were rescued in that way."

It is not only CIA anymore in trade for using it as gold mine to finance its illegal operations all over the world but US


economy also need some liquidity in its banks, it doesn't matter if it is coming by drug trade.

2. Drug Production & Consumption

Afghanistan is the largest producer of heroin's main ingredient; opium and opium is nothing new in this part of the world. In


Afghanistan and FATA, Pakistan it is being produced since centuries; used as remedy for various diseases. Commercial production of


opium began just during the Russian invasion in Afghanistan where it is estimated to produce some 8250 metric tons


(Source: AmericanFreePress.net, November 24, 2008) of opium per year which makes 85% to 90% of the


world's supply of opium. This also contributes towards Afghan warlords' wealth directly. This is what CIA brought to the


region: Opium production without a brand name obviously. Today's world opium production map is as under;




"" class="image img_assist_custom" />Left: Demand and trafficking of drugs globally. US is one of very


high concentration drug trafficking territory thanks to Regan's National Security Council who turned a blind eye towards South


American cocaine socking into US in 1980 when CIA was backing all the drug traffickers of Contra movements in Nicaragua.

Markets for these drugs stretched world over from Western Europe to Far East, From Canada to Latin America and From China to


Morocco, Africa. Profits related to this business also vary along with market's location.

This business enriches not only the United States-friendly Afghan warlords but also elements of the Northern Alliance, the US key


ally in the country. More disturbing is fact that this money also contributes in CIA's operations against Pakistan as well.

3. Contra Movements (1980)

In Asia demand for heroin is more than any other drug but it is not the case world over. Cocaine is favorite drug which is


consumed the most. Cocaine was nothing new in South American countries but it was only during Nicaraguan contra movements against


the then dictator it got shoot up. It was again CIA's regime change operation to bring "democracy" in Nicaragua. It


was during this period when the whole region saw an unprecedented surge in cocaine trafficking in 1980. This has been investigated


none other than but by CIA's inspector general in later years.

Was CIA a part of this?

Answer is not only CIA was aiding these cocaine traffickers and money-launderers but Ronald Reagon's National Security Council


also turned a blind eye towards these drug trades despite the fact that later these very drug traffickers brought cocaine to


mainland US. According to CIA's inspector general report, published in online magazineThe Consortium


magazine, Oct. 15, 1998, it was Reagan's National Security Council which cleared proven drug traffickers and CIA


inspector general Frederick Hitz confirmed long standing.

alt="" class="image img_assist_custom" />




Above: Armed men of Nicaragua insurgency during 1980, armed with CIA's sport and financed by drug money.

Allegations of cocaine traffickers.

The NSC's covert airline was the main transportation mean to do this trade in safest possible way.

Most stunning part of all this contra movements and CIA involvement is methods these movements used to dismantle the then


Nicaraguan government including bombing and killing of civilians and CIA withheld all evidence of contra crimes from Justice


Department, the Congress and even its own analytical division just to conceal its connection with drug traffickers.

4.Afghanistan

As it is mentioned earlier that Afghanistan was not a hub of drug supply to world before Russian invasion in 1979. It was


CIA once again to implement what it successfully implemented in Nicaragua in 1980. Now, Afghanistan is biggest contributor in drug


production with its massive opium production.

Russian Afghan War (1979-1989)

CIA was not fully done with contra movements when Russia invaded Afghanistan in 1979 threatening the region with her expansionist


design to gain control over Afghanistan and Baluchistan province of Pakistan to reach Arabian Sea. Pakistan decided to confront


Russia inside Afghanistan to thwart communist designs. CIA found an opportunity in Afghanistan to settle its long standing duel


with Russian for global dominion, after initial successes by Afghan fighters. CIA once again brought tested formula of drug to


finance this war which it used in South America with only difference in prescription where cocaine was replaced with heroin. Poppy


cultivation was nothing new to Afghan but it was level of production and demand created by international traffickers in the world


which shocked many in vicinity of these poppy fields.

Profit gained by these drugs was main driving force behind all this trade and with heroin it was much more than what it was with


cocaine. Ironically US and Europe became biggest markets of heroin prepared produced in Afghanistan.

Regan's administration is also a common factor in both Afghan heroin trade and contra cocaine traffickers. Role of CIA in


first Afghan war was not overt as it could provoke Russians in more direct retaliation albeit Cuban missile crisis of 1960s. To


avoid that kind of hostility it was more suitable for CIA to have silent links with Afghan warlords and providing sources to grow


poppy. "By the end of Russian invasion in 1989 Afghanistan was second largest opium production spot with 1350 Metric ton


after notorious Golden Triangle including countries like Laos, Thailand, Burma and Vietnam which was producing 2645 Metric ton at


that time leaving Latin America way behind with just 112 Metric ton", as per US Drug Enforcement Administration.

Pre and Post Taliban Era (1994-2001)

In 1994 unrest and lawlessness in Afghanistan gave rise to Taliban. Motivated with their strict religious background and education


they put ban on all kinds of drugs in territory under their control but this was not the cure for chronically infected Afghan


economy and society. Non availability of any job market and strong hold of Northern Alliance of Northern part of country remained


biggest challenge to these efforts to cut down poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. But despite all the challenges Talibans were able


to put a serious cut on opium.

alt="" class="image img_assist_custom" />




Above: A price comparison between Cocaine and Heroin. Despite low price of Afghan opium street price in end


market in US is many times more than cocaine's price in same market.

production in Afghanistan by start of 2001 when they were about to capture Northern Alliance's strong hold Mazar-e-Sharif but


post 9/11 scenario not only changed the geopolitical dynamics of the whole world but also destroyed the efforts of Taliban to


control opium production.

"257" width="400" alt="" class="image img_assist_custom" />Left: In year 2001, just before US/NATO


invasion into Afghanistan, Taliban were able to cut down opium production by a decisive margin. This was also one of core reasons


against Taliban along with other excuses. After year 2002, when Taliban were removed from power there is a historical increase in


opium production in Afghanistan, money is going to pentagon to carry on Afghan and Iraq war despite a historical recession in US.

Recent Afghan Conflict (2002 - To date)

"279" width="400" alt="" class="image img_assist_custom" />

Afghanistan is leading opium production in world today but after the invasion of US in 2002 Afghanistan is also attributed to have


largest heroin production in the world as well.

Without active support of Pentagon and CIA it is not possible to export drug prepared with more than 8000 metric tons of opium. US


relations with Northern Alliance in Afghanistan after Taliban have given a free license to drug producers, traffickers. CIA and


Pentagon both have their links to all these criminals in order to get supplies of the drugs and export it in US Army planes. It


has been reported that CIA used US Army planes leaving Afghanistan carrying coffins which were filled with drugs instead of


bodies.

To make sure undisturbed trade US appointed all Northern Alliance drug lords at key posts in Afghanistan and most prominent


appointment was none other than President Hamid Karzai. Karzai's brother, head of Kandahar's provincial council is proven


drug trafficker facilitating the transportation of heroin from Kandahar eastward through Helmand and out across the Iranian


border.




There is no reason to believe that CIA is not aware of this but as it is all one big enterprise where Karzai is also a partner so


no danger to his brother.

Bush administration pushed the level of poppy cultivation to next level in Afghanistan just to keep Wall Streets alive in crisis.


Many top Bush administration's officials were worried about growing influence of countries in Golden Triangle (Loas, Thailand,


Vietnam, Burma) in Russian and Chinese drug markets. Like Oil in Iraq this was just another opportunity for the Bush


administration to have some quick bucks.

Blames for using drugs to fight with NATO and US forces is always put on Taliban. But looking at areas of Taliban's active


zones one can easily understand where all this poppy cultivation is taking place. Taliban put ban on poppy when they were incharge


of majority of Afghan territories and Kabul, the capital. Afghanistan was suffering worst economic crisis at that time but Taliban


never went to build their economy with heroin trade. Now it is just ridiculous to blame Taliban to have vast fields of poppy and


having enough peace and time to grow and process it into heroin and then trade it in Pakistan and Iran to dens it to destinations


in Eastern Europe. Below is map of Afghanistan indicating high poppy cultivation provinces and it is quite evident that Taliban


dominant.

"" class="image img_assist_custom" />Left: Ahmed Wali Karzai, appointed by his brother, President Hamid


Karzai, to represent Kandahar province in Kabul.

According to media reports he is main player in exporting heroin and opium to European countries through Turkmenistan.

Provinces like Kunar, Pektika,Paktya has low poppy cultivation and other provinces where all US/CIA supported warlords are holding


key positions are growing most of opium crop. It was only after US invasion there was a 4400% increase in opium production.

US role in Afghan social debacle will go in history as describedThe Huffington Post on October 15, 2008 "When the history


of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan is written, Washington's sordid involvement in the heroin trade and its alliance with drug


lords and war criminals of the Afghan Communist Party will be one of the most shameful chapters."

5. Pakistan: Indirect Victim of the CIA's Drug business

Almost the whole world is affected by this drug trade but countries which lie in routes of drug traffickers are worst effected


after the original drug markets. Countries like Pakistan are paying a very high price for US/CIA drug trade as there is a constant


increase in drug addiction in Pakistan. Iran is another country which happens to be in route of international drug traffickers so


it is also facing problem of smuggling of heroin and morphine from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Turkey and Europe. After US


invasion of Afghanistan this route has become active manifold then it was previously.

Effects of this trade are not limited to drug usage only but it destroys the social fabric in a society and gives rise to street


crimes in order to get some cash to buy drugs from street market. A more horrible outcome is spread of HIV virus among addicted


persons when they share the injection syringes. This threat is increasing with each passing day as number of HIV positive is


increasing.

Another disastrous effect it brought to Pakistan and Afghanistan other neighbours is serious law and order situation in bordering


area of each country with Afghanistan. Combating this evil trade is not possible until a holistic effort is made by international


community in this regards but its chances are bleak as this trade is needed by global imperialism (Israel, US, UK) more than ever


before to give some support to their dying economies.

alt="" class="image img_assist_custom" />




Above: Pakistan has become main artery in heroin trafficking route and it has a lot of implication on Pakistani


security. Level of drug addicted also increased over the year due to high availability of drugs in street market. Afghanistan is


main producer but Pakistan us where most of drugs are seized.

6. Conclusion

Under current situation it is very important for countries like Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Russia to think about how to put


jinni of drug back to the bottle before international drug mafia takes over these countries by destroying their social norms and


values.

CIA not only has a long history of having links with traffickers but also encouraging the drug trade to get its own interests


served. CIA always encourages this trade even if it affected its own citizens like in Contra movements of 1980.

Afghanistan became leader in opium production and main hub for providing heroin and its main ingredient to whole world. All this


happened under the control of champion of human rights US and its intelligence setup mainly CIA.

Situation is becoming more and bleaker unless Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran and Afghanistan governments start thinking about this


trade and its far reaching affects on US economy and CIA's funding. It is time when the whole region should become equivocal


against this trade and ask US to leave the region for greater good of the billions of people in region.

- Asian Tribune -