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'''Barry Seal''' was a Green Beret in the [[Vietnam war]] and later a pilot for TWA. In 1972 he was indicted but aquitted on charges of conspiring to ship explosives to anti-[[Castro]][[Cuba]]ns in [[Mexico]]. From 1973 to 1982 he ran a no questions asked aiplane dealership, which included as customers the [[CIA]]. During this period he also flew [[marijuana]], and later [[cocaine]] from [[Colombia]] to his private airstrip in [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]].

'''Barry Seal''' was a Green Beret in the [[Vietnam war]] and later a pilot for TWA. In 1972 he was indicted but aquitted on charges of conspiring to ship explosives to anti-[[Castro]][[Cuba]]ns in [[Mexico]]. From 1973 to 1982 he ran a no questions asked aiplane dealership, which included as customers the [[CIA]]. During this period he also flew [[marijuana]], and later [[cocaine]] from [[Colombia]] to his private airstrip in [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]].

In 1982 he was arrested in Ft. Lauderdale, [[Florida]] for possession with intent to deliver quaaludes. He faced a 10-year sentence. He tried to cut a deal with the [[DEA]], but they weren't interested. So, Seal flew to [[Washington, DC]] for a hearing before the National Narcotics Border Interdiction Task Force. The NNBITF was a Vice Presidential Task Force. They overruled the concerns of the [[Miami]] DEA office and made an arrangement with Seal.<ref>https://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/msg31127.html </ref> He was put to work in Operation Screamer, which included the largest drug bust in Nevada history. Later, [[Oliver North]]'s network had Seal work undercover to discredit the [[Sandinista]] government. Seal agreed to fly his C-130 transport plane to a site where Sandinista soldiers would be photographed loading it with 750 kilos of cocaine.<ref>https://youtu.be/7yc3Zmz3z3M </ref> This photo evidence was widely publicized in the US, until it became known that they had been faked. That cleared Seal of the DEA. North then recruited the ex-Green Beret to help manage and fly missions to [[Central America]]. That took him to Mena, Arkansas.<ref>http://www.idfiles.com/menacoverup.htm </ref>  

In 1982 he was arrested in Ft. Lauderdale, [[Florida]] for possession with intent to deliver quaaludes. He faced a 10-year sentence. He tried to cut a deal with the [[DEA]], but they weren't interested. So, Seal flew to [[Washington, DC]] for a hearing before the National Narcotics Border Interdiction Task Force. The NNBITF was a Vice Presidential Task Force. They overruled the concerns of the [[Miami]] DEA office and made an arrangement with Seal.<ref>https://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/msg31127.html </ref> He was put to work in Operation Screamer, which included the largest drug bust in Nevada history. Later, [[Oliver North]]'s network had Seal work undercover to discredit the [[Sandinista]] government. Seal agreed to fly his C-130 transport plane to a site where Sandinista soldiers would be photographed loading it with 750 kilos of cocaine.<ref>https://youtu.be/7yc3Zmz3z3M </ref> This photo evidence was widely publicized in the US, until it became known that they had been faked. That cleared Seal of the DEA. North then recruited the ex-Green Beret to help manage and fly missions to [[Central America]]. That took him to Mena, Arkansas.<ref>http://www.idfiles.com/menacoverup.htm </ref>  

Seal first made contact with the Medellin cartel's Miami contacts, Fillix Dixon Bates and Carlos Bustmante. Medellin was headed at time by the Ochoa brothers: Juan, Jorge and Flavio Ochoa. Soon he was in Colombia contracting with the Ochoas to deliver their cocaine to customers in Miami and the West Coast.

Seal first made contact with the Medellin cartel's Miami contacts, Fillix Dixon Bates and Carlos Bustmante. Medellin was headed at time by the Ochoa brothers: Juan, Jorge and Flavio Ochoa. Soon he was in Colombia contracting with the Ochoas to deliver their cocaine to customers in Miami and the West Coast.

Hutchinson was succeeded as [[United States Attorney]] by Michael Fitzhugh. Duncan made several trips to Fort Smith, Arkansas to talk to Fitzhugh but said the trips were to no avail. Duncan later testified that the Mena Airport money laundering was covered up by the United States Attorney. He had not been called to testify before the federal grand jury on Mena. The FBI also kept a file on the Mena airport for years.

Hutchinson was succeeded as [[United States Attorney]] by Michael Fitzhugh. Duncan made several trips to Fort Smith, Arkansas to talk to Fitzhugh but said the trips were to no avail. Duncan later testified that the Mena Airport money laundering was covered up by the United States Attorney. He had not been called to testify before the federal grand jury on Mena. The FBI also kept a file on the Mena airport for years.

In the summer of 1985, Seal appeared before Sen. [[John Kerry]]'s Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations and gave testimony against the Medellin cartel, implicating the Ochoa Brothers.  

In the summer of 1985, Seal appeared before Sen. [[John Kerry]]'s Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations and gave testimony against the Medellin cartel, implicating the Ochoa Brothers.  

In December 1985 Seal was sentenced on earlier [[drug]] charges to six months probation with community service at a [[Salvation Army]] shelter. He was not to leave Baton Rouge or carry a [[firearm]]. Seal began his Salvation Army shelter stint in January, 1986. Then on February 19, he was assassinated in front of the shelter, shot over 50 times with an Ingram Mac-10 and an [[Uzi]].  

In December 1985 Seal was sentenced on earlier [[drug]] charges to six months probation with community service at a [[Salvation Army]] shelter. He was not to leave Baton Rouge or carry a [[firearm]]. Seal began his Salvation Army shelter stint in January, 1986. Then on February 19, he was assassinated in front of the shelter, shot over 50 times with an Ingram Mac-10 and an [[Uzi]].  

==See also==

==See also==