Project Sahara was the code name used by LAPD detective [[Steve Polak|Steve Polak Guzzetta]] for his investigation into the [[Danilo Blandon|Blandón]] [[cocaine]] network, which uncovered the Contra drug connection before being shut down. Guzzetta chose the name because he figured the Torres brothers could help "dry up" the cocaine supply in [[South Central Los Angeles|South Central L.A.]].[^1] ### The Investigation Guzzetta compiled his debriefing notes into a series of reports under the Project Sahara title. The Torres brothers revealed that "there is one major market which informant 36210 and 36211 are dealing with, which for the sake of argument in this report will be designated the Black market, because it is solely controlled by two male Negroes by the name of Rick and Ollie." The two black dealers, [[Ricky Ross|"Freeway" Ricky Ross]] and Ollie "Big Nose" Newell, were generating approximately $10 million a month. When the Torres brothers started talking about Contra connections and airfields in [[New Orleans]] and Brownsville, [[Texas]], Guzzetta realized the investigation reached far beyond street-level drug dealing.[^2] ### Footnotes [^1]: Gary Webb, *Dark Alliance*, Ch. 17. [^2]: Gary Webb, *Dark Alliance*, Ch. 17.