Miami

Miami is a city in southern Florida that served as a major hub for both Cocaine trafficking and Contra political activity during the 1980s.¹ Danilo Blandón moved to Miami from Los Angeles in 1987, investing his drug profits in a string of businesses and reconnecting with Nicaraguan exile networks.²

Contra Political Center

Miami was the center of the Nicaraguan exile community in the United States. Contra leaders and supporters gathered at restaurants and businesses like La Parrilla, co-founded by former National Guard major general Gustavo Medina and FDN supporter Donald Barrios. Blandón bought into the restaurant, which became a hangout for Contra leaders and was named "the best Nicaraguan restaurant in Dade County" by the Miami Herald in 1987. Jose Macario Estrada, an exiled Nicaraguan judge and Blandón's immigration lawyer, was also based in Miami.²

Cocaine Trafficking Hub

Miami was one of the primary entry points for Colombian cocaine into the United States. Norwin Meneses flew planeloads of 200 to 400 kilograms of cocaine from Miami to Los Angeles. Blandón continued pursuing Ricky Ross from Miami, calling to offer cocaine deals, and traveled to New York to meet with Ross and Colombian suppliers. Enrique Miranda, Meneses's former aide who "escaped" from a Nicaraguan prison, was found living in Miami in December 1996 with a visa the U.S. Embassy had issued him the day of his escape.³

Blandón's Business Empire

After moving to Miami, Blandón invested in Alpha II Rent-a-Car, which spread to twenty-four locations in southern Florida, and became an authorized outlet for Chrysler and General Motors vehicles. He also invested in Mex-US Import and Export Inc. and other businesses with Nicaraguan exile partners.²