---
category: U.S. Government
location: Laguna Beach, California
summary: The Laguna Beach Police Department employed Ron Lister, a former officer
  who became Danilo Blandón's partner in drug trafficking and weapons procurement
  with claimed CIA connections.
tags:
- organization
- law-enforcement
- contra-war
---

The Laguna Beach Police Department employed [Ron Lister](/people/ron-lister/), a former officer who became [Danilo Blandón](/people/danilo-blandon/)'s partner in drug trafficking and weapons procurement with claimed [Central Intelligence Agency](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) connections. When investigators later sought Lister's personnel files, they discovered the records had been purged.[^1]

### Ron Lister's Background

The Torres brothers told investigators that "Blandón is working with an ex-Laguna Beach police officer by the name of Ronnie, who lives in an expensive house in Mission Viejo and drives a new Mercedes automobile. Ronnie transported 100 kilos of [cocaine](/concepts/cocaine/) to the Black market and has transported millions of dollars to [Miami](/places/miami/) for Danilo Blandón." Lister operated Mundy Security Group Inc., incorporated in Laguna Beach in mid-1983, which provided cover for his weapons procurement activities. He claimed to have high-level CIA contacts at [Fluor Corporation](/organizations/fluor-corporation/) and told drug dealers his "friends in Washington" could make their legal problems disappear.[^2]

### Purged Records

When investigators contacted the Laguna Beach Police Department about Lister's background, they were told that "the actual personnel files related to Ronald Lister no longer existed. All the information and documents in the Lister file had been purged, with the exception of the original employment application." The destruction of records prevented investigators from establishing Lister's full background and connections.[^3]

[^1]: Webb, Gary. *Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion.* Seven Stories Press, 1998. Ch. 9.
[^2]: Webb, Gary. *Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion.* Seven Stories Press, 1998. Ch. 9.
[^3]: Webb, Gary. *Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion.* Seven Stories Press, 1998. Ch. 9.