Ron Lister
Ron Lister was a former Laguna Beach police officer who became Danilo Blandón's partner in drug trafficking and weapons procurement, claiming high-level CIA connections.
Ron Lister was a former Laguna Beach police officer who became Danilo Blandón's partner in drug trafficking and weapons procurement, claiming high-level Central Intelligence Agency connections. Lister's activities illustrated the overlap between law enforcement, the drug trade, and intelligence operations in California during the 1980s.1
Drug Trafficking Partnership
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 to the Black market and has transported millions of dollars to 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 arranged weapons sales presentations to Contra leaders, with attendees including Eden Pastora and other top Contra figures.2
CIA Claims and Arrest
When arrested, Lister told detectives: "I know why you're here, but why are you here? Mr. Weekly knows what I'm doing and you're not supposed to be here." Lister told Detective Juarez "that he had dealings in South America and worked with the CIA and added that his friends in Washington weren't going to like what was going on." He claimed his CIA contact was the former Deputy Director of Operations working at Fluor Corporation. After the arrest, a CIA cable marked "Immediate Director" reported that individuals claiming CIA affiliation had been detained. Nearly all seized evidence was returned to Lister and Blandón within days.3
Sources
- Webb, Gary. Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion. Seven Stories Press, 1998. Ch. 9. ↩
- Webb, Gary. Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion. Seven Stories Press, 1998. Ch. 9, Ch. 8. ↩
- Webb, Gary. Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion. Seven Stories Press, 1998. Ch. 9. ↩
Local network
Ron Lister's direct connections. Click any node to navigate, drag to pan, scroll (or pinch) to zoom. + 2‑hop expands the neighborhood one level further.