July 2000
ATT: Sligo Leitrim Garda Drugs Squad
FROM: Diarmuid MacConville
Killavoggy
Dromahair
Co Leitrim
Tel: 071 34977
17. 07.00
A chara,
I am writing to make a formal complaint of systematic drugs-related corruption amongst Irish politicians, judges and high ranking gardai. I am also writing to provide possible lines for investigation in the case of my sudden death at the hands of a hired killer, or indeed a hit-and-run accident or some mysterious new disease.
My reasons for concern are based on the following information, which I urge you to confirm for accuracy. You will find that all the information I have quoted is accurate, and the conclusions I come to are those that any logical person must also come to.
1. Long term protection of the heroin trade by US government and intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Security Council.
This protection has been going on since the 1940s (Lucky Luciano and the Sicilian Mafia), the 1950s and 1960s (Burmese and Chinese Kuomintang anti-communists, various Vietnamese, Thai and Laotian opium warlords), the 1970s (more Burmese warlords, drug money through the Nugan Hand bank in Australia), the 1980s (deliberately helping those Afghan mujaheddin who were growing opium, the 'cocaine coup' in Bolivia with help of Nazi Klaus Barbie, virtually every Latin American country receiving US military aid had massive, top level drugs corruption), the 1990s (more of the same, really).
The evidence for this comes from eyewitness testimony from former members of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) like Mike Levine, Celerino Castillo, Bradley Ayers, Anabelle Grimm, Robert Bonner (a former head of the DEA), etc, etc. Also from former CIA agents and assets like Terry Reed, Michael Tolliver, Gunther Russbacher, Phillip Agee, etc, etc. Also from other law enforcement and Federal agency personnel like Mike Ruppert (ex Los Angeles Police Department, LAPD), John Rothstein (ex New York Police Department) John Carman, Jim Dukes, Thomas Grieve, David Ruiz, Herbert Hailes, Frank Newman, (all US Customs), David Hall (Assisstant US Attorney), FBI agents Richard Taus, Claudio De La O. I could go on and on and on, but I don't want to bore you. Check out these sources first then come back to me for more whistleblowers, if you're still not convinced.
There is also eyewitness testimony from civilians who have had the misfortune to get caught in the crossfire: In particular I draw your attention to the series of murders in Arkansas centred around the airport in Mena, and to the more recent series of deaths in the state of Montana and linked to trafficking by Governor Marc Racicot. There are eyewitness reports from relatives and friends of the various murder victims who are prepared to give evidence .
Also official US government reports which in part confirm these allegations:
1998, Volumes one and two of the CIA Inspector General's report into allegations of drug smuggling by the CIA.
1992, Subcommittee of the House Committee on Government Operations: "Serious and misconduct in the Treasury Department, Customs Service and other Federal Agenc mismanagement ies".
1988, Senate Committee on foreign relations, subcommittee on terrorism, narcotics and international communications (The Kerry report) "Drugs, law enforcement and foreign policy"
2. Irish government's cooperation with the CIA and other US agences, while ignoring drug related corruption.
The Irish government shares drug related information with the US, knowing that this information will be used to protect certain drug dealers at the expense of others. The Irish government shares this info through Interpol, Fincen, Europol, and through permitting the US Govt to tap every phone, fax, telex and email in this country without raising a peep of protest. I tried to get a question on CIA drug smuggling raised in the Dail, and the Speaker said it was not relevant. I have tried to get the Department of Justice to answer a question on this, they refuse to even answer. However, there is no doubt that the Irish government is aware of the drug related corruption in the US, and there is equally no doubt that they are either too scared or too crooked to do anything about it.
3. Specific drug related incidents in Ireland which are deeply suspicious.
3.1 FF accepted money from drug dealer Mickey Green, apparently in November 1996 at a fundraiser at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin. Green had been expelled from the US, and was apparently given the choice of where to be expelled to - he apparently chose Ireland. He was introduced to FF by his chauffeur, who was apparently an active party member.
3.2 All parties have stood idly by and permitted the continuing residence in this country of Carlos Salinas de Gortari, former Mexican president and regarded by many genuine anti-narcotics people as being responsible for a massive flow of heroin and cocaine into the US when he was president. There is eyewitness testimony linking Salinas to political murder and drug dealing in Mexico, and his brother and close associate is in jail in Mexico on drugs and murder charges. Various other close Salinas associates are in jail or are being investigated or are have open links to drug dealers. Salinas was a business partner with George Bush at one stage, and Bush's links to drug dealers like Manuel Noriega, Felix Gomez and the Nicarauguan Contra rebels, are too well documented to need further mention here. Salinas promoted Nazar Haro, who had previously intervened to save mega billion drugs dealer Sicilia falcon in the 1970s - another man with strong CIA connections.
Salinas was actually illegally in Ireland as his short term visa had expired but he hadn't bothered to get a new one. Neither Garda Special Branch Aliens section nor the politicians felt the need to pursue this. Press reports indicate that Salinas fled Mexico with $5billion in illgotten gains. I wonder how many Irish politicians that would buy? Both Nora Owen and John O'Donoghue are well aware of the allegations against Salinas. O'Donoghue has refused to answer when asked if he received political donations from Salinas. Salinas has allegedly told reporters that he admires Charlie Haughey, and he reported to be a friend of Ryanair millionaire Tony Ryan.
Dublin Judge Smethwick -or Smithwick??- ruled that the media were forbidden to report on a court hearing involving Carlos Salinas and the investigative arm of a fellow European country in relation to massive drug money laundering. Every day the papers are full of terrible human tragedy seen in the courts, of abuse and violence and tragedy and betrayal. Why did the judge not permit the media to cover this case? Ever wonder how many irish judges $5 billion would buy?
3.3 Fine Gael politicians the Mitchell brothers are first cousins to major league heroin dealer, George 'the penguin' Mitchell. Mitchell was questioned - but released - in the investigation into Veronica Guerin's murder. One of the Mitchell brothers was a Minister for Justice at the same time as his cousins' criminal enterprise was flooding the city with heroin.
3.4 The son of former Justice Minister Mr Donegan was found with a substantial quantity of cannabis. He was released very early in his sentence after what were described as "special circumstances".
3.5 A man bringing millions of pounds worth of heroin through Dublin Airport, when stopped by Customs, claimed that he was working for the gardai, and are enough there was a member of the Gardai ready to meet him. At the subsequent trial, the Garda denied that the accused was bringing in the heroin under his instructions, but the jury did not believe the Garda and acquitted the accused. The garda has not been investigated and is still on active duty.
3.6 The Garda involved in helping the alleged murderers of Veronica Guerin got out of jail after the ridiculously short time of 18 months. This was in part because he had agreed to plead guilty at trial and avoid more embarassing revelations. Newspaper reports suggested there was another member of the Garda involved in the Guerin murder, but this member has never been publicly identified.
3.7 Anti-drugs activists in Dublin's inner city have sometimes complained that some members of the Gardai are more anxious to close down the anti-drugs protests then they are to close down certain heroin dealers.
3.8 Drugs are widely available in the prisons. A friend of mine who was serving time for a non-violent, minor cannabis offence, was told by the governor of one of Ireland's major prisons: "For God's sake, when you have a spliff, make sure to close your cell door first."
3.9 The current Garda Commissioner bought a house for a cheap price from drug dealer and murderer. The Commissioner says he didn't know who owned the house, but it turns out his sister in law lived in the next door house for years. The former owner of the house received a staggeringly light sentence for his involvement in a gangland slaying. The killer had also been given bail, despite having previously absconded while on bail.
3.10 One of the Tribunals revaled that the Ansbacher acounts were being used for drug money laundering. An expatriate Cuban was involved. As you are aware, there is a strong link between the Cubans and the CIA.
4. Conclusion:
In short, it is obvious to me that the real reason why drugs are illegal in this country is not because they are harmful - as a garda you know that most violence and death is linked to alcohol. The reason drugs are illegal is because the politicians control and profit from the drugs trade and if it was made legal, there would not be anything like so much profit to be made from it.
I hope that you can find the time to check out the facts that I have outlined above. If the facts are true, which they are, then the inescapable conclusion is that there is something very fishy about the so-called 'war on drugs'.
But I think you probably won't. After all, if what I am saying is not
true, then there is nothing to be gained from investigating it. And if
what I say is true, then it's obvious that to investigate it would mean
a quick end to your career. But I am happy that I have overcome my fears
and done my duty as a citizen in reporting my suspicions to the Gardai.
No matter what action you decide to take, my best wishes go with you.
Regards