Homestead Air Force Base

Homestead Air Force Base in Florida was where the Somoza family fled into exile in 1979, and was later identified as a landing site for Contra-connected drug flights. The base served as both a gateway for deposed dictators and, according to the Kerry Committee, a destination for aircraft smuggling Cocaine and weapons.¹

Somoza's Flight

In the predawn hours of July 17, 1979, Anastasio Somoza and his closest associates boarded two jets and flew to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida to begin their exile. The departure marked the end of the Somoza dynasty's 43-year rule over Nicaragua and the beginning of the Sandinista government that the Contras would later be formed to overthrow. Somoza's son and other family members established themselves in the Miami area, where they became active in Contra support networks.²

Drug Flights

Pilots connected to the Contra supply chain admitted flying weapons south and cocaine and marijuana back, landing in at least one instance at Homestead Air Force Base. The Kerry Committee's findings documented the use of military facilities for Contra-connected drug trafficking operations, illustrating how the covert war's logistics infrastructure was exploited for narcotics smuggling.³