Did the CIA Actually Sell Crack in the 1980s? | The War On Drugs

Summary by Krater

An investigation into whether the CIA was responsible for the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic in American cities, examining journalist Gary Webb's 1996 'Dark Alliance' report and its subsequent fallout.

From the video

Answers: Was the CIA responsible for the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic?

• CIA involvement in crack cocaine trade
• Gary Webb Dark Alliance investigation
• Contras and cocaine trafficking
• San Jose Mercury News reporting
• Mainstream media backlash against investigative journalism

What it concludes

• The CIA did not sell crack cocaine or give direct orders to flood American streets with drugs.
• The CIA knew that Contra-linked figures were importing cocaine, did nothing to stop them, and protected them from investigation.
• Mainstream newspapers attacked Gary Webb's reporting and forced him out of journalism rather than investigating the CIA's role.
• A 1998 internal CIA inspector general report corroborated that the agency knew about Contra drug trafficking and protected the traffickers.