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The Mena Airport in Arkansas became the logistical point for implementation of US Central American policy.<ref>https://youtu.be/g_epmurfIk8 ; see also Bill Plante & Michael Singer, ''Still a Strong Scent on the Mena Trail'', Letter to the Editor, [[Wall Street Journal]], 5/3/94.</ref> Gross value of the illegally imported [[narcotic]]s at Mena is said to have reached $100 million per month at its height, nearly ten times its cost of delivery in trade and arms.

The Mena Airport in Arkansas became the logistical point for implementation of US Central American policy.<ref>https://youtu.be/g_epmurfIk8 ; see also Bill Plante & Michael Singer, ''Still a Strong Scent on the Mena Trail'', Letter to the Editor, [[Wall Street Journal]], 5/3/94.</ref> Gross value of the illegally imported [[narcotic]]s at Mena is said to have reached $100 million per month at its height, nearly ten times its cost of delivery in trade and arms.

On 5 October 1986, a C-123 transport plane delivering weapons to the Nicaraguan Contras was shot down by a surface-to-air shoulder launched missile. Two U.S. pilots and a Nicaraguan radio operator were killed, while [[Eugene Hasenfus]], the "cargo-kicker" survived. The plane was carrying "60 collapsible [[AK-47]] rifles, 50,000 AK-47 rifle cartridges, several dozen [[RPG-7]] grenade launchers and 150 pairs of jungle boots".<ref name=Lange>Timothy Lange, ''Daily Kos'', 27 December 2009, [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/27/819675/-Blast-from-the-Past-Gene-Hasenfus-December-1986 Blast from the Past. Gene Hasenfus: December 1986]</ref> The plane had been owned by the now deceased [[Barry Seal]], and based in Mena, Arkansas.<ref>https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB920421328276427000</ref> Hasenfus's captured phone book contained the names of Barry Seal, Oliver North, and Felix Rodriguez<ref>Felix Rodriguez, a legendary figure, is known as [[Che Guevara]]'s assassin. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7027619.stm  According to ''[[60 Minutes]]'' producer Leslie Cockburn, Rodriguez persuaded the Medellin Cartel to contibute $10 million to aid the Contras.</ref> which the Sandinista's used to attract American media attention and expose the Mena operation.

On 5 October 1986, a C-123 transport plane delivering weapons to the Nicaraguan Contras was shot down by a surface-to-air shoulder launched missile. Two U.S. pilots and a Nicaraguan radio operator were killed, while [[Eugene Hasenfus]], the "cargo-kicker" survived. The plane was carrying "60 collapsible [[AK-47]] rifles, 50,000 AK-47 rifle cartridges, several dozen [[RPG-7]] grenade launchers and 150 pairs of jungle boots".<ref name=Lange>Timothy Lange, ''Daily Kos'', 27 December 2009, [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/27/819675/-Blast-from-the-Past-Gene-Hasenfus-December-1986 Blast from the Past. Gene Hasenfus: December 1986]</ref> The plane had been owned by the now deceased [[Barry Seal]], and based in Mena, Arkansas.<ref>https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB920421328276427000</ref> Hasenfus's captured phone book contained the names of Barry Seal, Oliver North, and [[Felix Rodriguez]]<ref>Felix Rodriguez, a legendary figure, is known as [[Che Guevara]]'s assassin. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7027619.stm  According to ''[[60 Minutes]]'' producer Leslie Cockburn, Rodriguez persuaded the Medellin Cartel to contibute $10 million to aid the Contras.</ref> which the Sandinista's used to attract American media attention and expose the Mena operation.

Even when Mena's gun-running operation was shut down after 1986, Mena continued to be used for illegal narcotics smuggling into the United States and the profits were pocketed by locals under then Governor [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/08/26/the-boys-on-the-tracks-are-back</ref> In 1989 Clinton received petitions from Arkansas citizens demanding he convene a state grand jury and investigate Mena.<ref>[http://bondiviewertest.azurewebsites.net/DataView/Article/HT?issueKey=19920501&articleKey=19920501021 Clinton Turned Blind Eye to Arkansas Contra Connections], ''High Times'', May 1992, p. 21</ref> Winston Bryant made Mena an issue in his successful bid for Arkansas [[Attorney General]] in 1990. A year later Bryant turned over state files involving Mena to Iran-Contra special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh, but Walsh did nothing with the reams of evidence.

Even when Mena's gun-running operation was shut down after 1986, Mena continued to be used for illegal narcotics smuggling into the United States and the profits were pocketed by locals under then Governor [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/08/26/the-boys-on-the-tracks-are-back</ref> In 1989 Clinton received petitions from Arkansas citizens demanding he convene a state grand jury and investigate Mena.<ref>[http://bondiviewertest.azurewebsites.net/DataView/Article/HT?issueKey=19920501&articleKey=19920501021 Clinton Turned Blind Eye to Arkansas Contra Connections], ''High Times'', May 1992, p. 21</ref> Winston Bryant made Mena an issue in his successful bid for Arkansas [[Attorney General]] in 1990. A year later Bryant turned over state files involving Mena to Iran-Contra special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh, but Walsh did nothing with the reams of evidence.