Project Sahara
Project Sahara was the code name for LAPD detective Guzzetta's investigation into the Blandón cocaine network, which uncovered the Contra drug connection before being shut down.
Project Sahara was the code name used by LAPD detective Steve Polak Guzzetta for his investigation into the Blandón cocaine network, which uncovered the Contra drug connection before being shut down. Guzzetta chose the name because he figured the Torres brothers could help "dry up" the cocaine supply in South Central L.A..1
The Investigation
Guzzetta compiled his debriefing notes into a series of reports under the Project Sahara title. The Torres brothers revealed that "there is one major market which informant 36210 and 36211 are dealing with, which for the sake of argument in this report will be designated the Black market, because it is solely controlled by two male Negroes by the name of Rick and Ollie." The two black dealers, "Freeway" Ricky Ross and Ollie "Big Nose" Newell, were generating approximately $10 million a month. When the Torres brothers started talking about Contra connections and airfields in New Orleans and Brownsville, Texas, Guzzetta realized the investigation reached far beyond street-level drug dealing.2
Sources
Local network
Project Sahara's direct connections. Click any node to navigate, drag to pan, scroll (or pinch) to zoom. + 2‑hop expands the neighborhood one level further.