Changes

==Mena, Arkansas==

==Mena, Arkansas==

The [[Boland Amendment]] restricted President [[Ronald Reagan]] from using US funds to directly exercise his [[foreign policy]] objective of removinging the [[Soviet]] and [[Cuba]]n backed [[Sandinista]] regime of [[Nicaragua]] which was using its toehold in [[Central America]] to foment violent [[revolution]] in neighboring [[El Salvador]]. It specifically barred the CIA and the [[DIA]] from assisting the [[Contras|Nicarauguan Contra]] rebels.  

The [[Boland Amendment]] restricted President [[Ronald Reagan]] from using US funds to directly exercise his [[foreign policy]] objective of removinging the [[Soviet]] and [[Cuba]]n backed [[Sandinista]] regime of [[Nicaragua]] which was using its toehold in [[Central America]] to foment violent [[revolution]] in neighboring [[El Salvador]]. It specifically barred the CIA and the [[DIA]] from assisting the [[Contras|Nicarauguan Contra]] rebels. A covert non-governmental organization was set up to train pilots in Arkansas and ship weapons purchased with non-governmental funds to Nicaragua.  

A covert non-governmental organization was set up to train pilots in Arkansas and ship weapons purchased with non-governmental funds to Nicaragua. State police investigator Russell Welch supplied then United States Attorney Asa Hutchinson with a list of 20 witnesses that included Barry Seal and officers of Rich Mountain Aviation in Mena, but Hutchinson only subpoenaed two of the 20 witnesses to the [[grand jury]] and they complained that Hutchinson asked nothing about the crime.  

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.

 

Arkansas state police investigator Russell Welch supplied US Attorney Asa Hutchinson with a list of 20 witnesses that included Barry Seal and officers of Rich Mountain Aviation in Mena, but Hutchinson only subpoenaed two of the 20 witnesses to the [[grand jury]] and they complained that Hutchinson asked nothing about the crime.

 

[[Internal Revenue Service]] agent Bill Duncan was asked by Hutchinson to look for evidence of [[money laundering]], which Duncan found. Duncan reported that Seal had a Learjet, [[helicopter]]s, military cargo planes, several smaller planes, and two ships with  navigational equipment, one of which had a helipad.  

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 was never called to testify before the federal grand jury on Mena. Duncan later testified that the Mena Airport money laundering was covered up by the United States Attorney.  

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.

After leaving the IRS, Duncan testified before the House Government Operations Subcommittee that evidence showed drug smuggling, gun running, money laundering and covert operations by Seal and employees and contract operatives of the United States intelligence services whereby profits were used to fund covert aid to tbe Contra.  

[[Internal Revenue Service]] agent Bill Duncan was asked by United States Attorney Asa Hutchinson to look for evidence of [[money laundering]], which Duncan found. Duncan reported that Seal had a Learjet, [[helicopter]]s, military cargo planes, several smaller planes, and two ships with  navigational equipment, one of which had a helipad. After leaving the IRS, Duncan testified before the House Government Operations Subcommittee that evidence showed drug smuggling, gun running, money laundering and covert operations by Seal and employees and contract operatives of the United States intelligence services whereby profits were used to fund covert aid to tbe Contra.  

The FBI also kept a file on the Mena airport for years.

Seal said in a federal drug trial in [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]] in 1985 that he flew 10 flights a year for 10 years carrying from 600-1200 pounds of cocaine each trip, the cocaine being worth $20,000-$50,000 a pound.  

Seal said in a federal drug trial in [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]] in 1985 that he flew 10 flights a year for 10 years carrying from 600-1200 pounds of cocaine each trip, the cocaine being worth $20,000-$50,000 a pound.

==Death==

==Death==