Baton Rouge, Louisiana was the base of [[Central Intelligence Agency]]-[[DEA]] contract agent [[Barry Seal]], whose farm served as a [[cocaine]] drop site connected to both the [[Medellin Cartel|Medellín Cartel]] and Contra supply operations. Seal moved from Baton Rouge to Mena, [[Arkansas]], in 1982, but his Louisiana connections remained central to the drug trafficking network.[^1] ### Seal's Operations Seal was one of the biggest cocaine and marijuana importers in the southern [[United States]], flying loads in directly for the Medellín cartel and air-dropping them with pinpoint precision across Louisiana, Arkansas, and other southern states. Seal detailed his cocaine-smuggling activities involving approximately 50 trips during 1981, 1982, and 1983. His farm in Baton Rouge was allegedly used as a drop site for cocaine and marijuana flown into the country aboard a DC-4 aircraft, according to a 1983 [[U.S. Customs]] report. That same plane subsequently turned up flying supplies for the [[Contras]] in 1985 through an air cargo company operated by [[FDN]] leader [[Adolfo Calero]]'s brother, [[Mario Calero]].[^2] ### National Security Protection Despite evidence sufficient for indictment on money laundering charges, cases against Seal were dropped over the strong protests of state and federal law enforcement officials. The apparent reason was that prosecution might have revealed national security information. Seal was ultimately murdered in Baton Rouge by Colombian hit men in 1986.[^3] ### Footnotes [^1]: Gary Webb, *Dark Alliance*, Cast of Characters. [^2]: Gary Webb, *Dark Alliance*, Ch. 7. [^3]: Gary Webb, *Dark Alliance*, Ch. 7.