Donald Barrios

Donald Barrios is a wealthy American businessman, in addition to being the connection between the former United States' Drug Enforcement Administration field agent Oscar Danilo Blandon Reyes and Juan Norwin Meneses Cantarero, a prominent Nicaraguan drug lord.[1] Barrios was an old college friend to Blandon.[2] Barrios contacted him early in December 1981 and dispatched him to Los Angeles International Airport to pick up Meneses. Meneses then took Blandon back to San Francisco and, over two days, schooled him in the cocaine trade. Blandon's alleged purpose for his involvement in the cocaine trade was to raise money for humanitarian and political reasons (albeit illegally).

At a drug trial in San Diego, Blandon revealed his connection to Barrios as a star witness for the Drug Enforcement Administration.[3]

Before Barrios contacted Blandon, Barrios was operating a business partnership in conjunction with Gustavo Medina, one of the top military aides for Anastasio Somoza Debayle.

References

  1. ↑ Cockburn, Alexander; Jeffrey St. Clair (November 1999). Whiteout: The CIA, Drugs and the Press. Verso. ISBN 1-85984-897-4.
  2. ↑ Webb, Gary (1999). Dark Alliance. Seven Stories Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-888363-93-7.
  3. ↑ Webb, Gary (September 13, 1996). "Ex-Somoza men linked to L.A. crack ring". San Jose Mercury-News. p. A-31.