Day One: America’s ‘crack’ plague has roots in nicaragua war
Colombia-San Francisco Bay Area drug pipeline helped finance CIA-backed Contras Backers of CIA-led Nicaraguan rebels brought cocaine to poor L.A. neighborhoods in early ’80s to help finance war — and a plague was born. Published: Aug. 18, 1996
Day Two: Shadowy origins of ‘crack’ epidemic
Role of CIA-linked agents a well-protected secret until now How a smuggler, a bureaucrat and a driven ghetto teen-ager created the cocaine pipeline, and how crack was “born” in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1974. Published: Aug. 19, 1996
Day Three: War on drugs has unequal impact on black americans
- Contra case illustrates the discrepancy: Nicaraguan goes free; L.A. dealer faces life The impact of the crack epidemic on the black community and why justice hasn’t been for all. Published: Aug. 20, 1996
San Jose Mercury News Postscript Archive
Drug raid documents reveal allegations of CIA involvement
Published: Oct. 6, 1996
Allegations supporting long-held suspicions seen as unifying issue for blacks
Published: Oct. 6, 1996
Questions arise about MN series on CIA-crack link Published: Oct. 4, 1996
Affidavit: Cops knew of drug ring Published: Oct. 3, 1996
Black leaders call for class-action lawsuit Published: Sept. 30, 1996
Gag order concealed possible CIA drug tiesPublished: Sept. 29, 1996
South Central residents condemn CIA’s reported role Published: Sept. 29, 1996
Activist vows to continue protests over alleged CIA-crack link Published: Sept. 27, 1996
Ex-DEA agent supports allegations; protesters arrested Published: Sept. 24, 1996
North calls CIA-drug allegations “garbage” Published: Sept. 22, 1996
Two probes start into possible CIA-drug ring tiesPublished: Sept. 21, 1996
CIA promises independent investigationPublished: Sept. 20, 1996
Waters may force vote to establish probe Published: Sept. 18, 1996
Dealer’s sentencing postponed Published: Sept. 14, 1996
Congressional Black Caucus demands investigation Published: Sept. 13, 1996
Pair arrested while urging probe Published: Sept. 12, 1996
Jackson calls for investigation Published: Sept. 8, 1996
Series leads to CIA probePublished: Sept. 6, 1996
Waters calls on Attorney GeneralPublished: Sept. 4, 1996
Boxer calls for CIA probePublished: Aug. 29, 1996
Black groups seek probe of CIA drug links Published: Aug. 24, 1996
Editorial: Another CIA disgrace: Helping the crack flow Published: Aug. 21, 996