Dagoberto Nuñez was a Cuban [[Bay of Pigs|Bay of Pigs]] veteran and [[Central Intelligence Agency]] operative who worked with [[Oliver North]] in [[Costa Rica]] and was suspected of drug trafficking. Nuñez's connections to both the intelligence community and the narcotics trade placed him at the intersection of the Contra war and the drug economy.[^1] ### CIA and NSC Connections Nuñez obtained a contract with H&M Corp. to cover an intelligence-gathering operation aimed at Nicaraguan president [[Daniel Ortega]]. According to a 1986 memo from CIA operative [[Rob Owen]] to North, Nuñez was preparing to sign an agreement for shrimping rights off the Pacific Coast of [[Nicaragua]]. "Nuñez is doing this so he can help us. He will cooperate and do anything we ask," Owen told North. When questioned about his activities, Nuñez revealed that since 1985 he had engaged in a clandestine relationship with the [[National Security Council]], but refused to elaborate on his involvement in narcotics trafficking because of the specific tasks he had performed at the NSC's direction. CIA headquarters ordered an immediate halt to his questioning.[^2] ### Drug Trafficking Connections [[John Hull]], a CIA-connected rancher in Costa Rica, hid at the apartment of Nuñez after legal troubles. Nuñez was one of several Cuban [[Bay of Pigs]] veterans the CIA deployed to [[Central America]] for Contra operations, bringing with them established connections to the drug trade. His case illustrated how the CIA protected operatives involved in narcotics trafficking by suppressing investigations.[^3] ### Footnotes [^1]: Gary Webb, *Dark Alliance*, Ch. 15. [^2]: Gary Webb, *Dark Alliance*, Ch. 15, Ch. 14. [^3]: Gary Webb, *Dark Alliance*, Ch. 27.