The summer of 1987 saw televised Congressional hearings 
exploring the events surrounding the shipment of U.S. missiles 
to Iran and the diversion of the profits from those weapons sales
to the Contras.  Lt. Col. Oliver North became a hero as he defended
his actions in service to the President of the United States.  His
missions were to obtain the release of hostages in Beirut and 
to provide the resources necessary to supply the Contra guerilla
army fighting inside Sandinista Nicaragua.

Never in the Iran-contra Congressional testimony is there 
discussion of allegations that cocaine assisted in keeping those
Contras fighting.  There were American law enforcement 
authorities who were totally ignored by officials in Washington.
Arkansas prosecutors were frustrated in trying to prosecute 
drug dealers connected with the Contra resupply effort out of Mena.
These law officers could not understand why drug dealers were protected 
by the U.S. government.
        
This story reports that  a House subcommittee started 
investigating, and a federal Grand Jury was convened, to examine 
the evidence of drug trafficking through the Mena Intermountain 
Regional Airport.

Larry
________________________


"House investigator opens Mena probe"
By  Rodney Bowers
THE ARKANSAS GAZETTE
December 17, 1987

         FORT SMITH _ A congressional investigator arrived Wednesday in
western Arkansas to interview persons about alleged criminal
activities at Mena's Intermountain Regional Airport.
        "We're looking at various things pertaining to drugs and guns,"
the investigator, who asked not to be named, said in an interview
Wednesday.
      The investigator is assigned to the House Subcommittee on Crime,
which is headed by Representative William J. Hughes (Dem., N.J.). He
said he plans to stay in the area through Friday.

*Grand Jury convenes*
        Also Wednesday, sources who asked not to be identified said a
federal Grand Jury convened at El Dorado is believed to be
investigating at least three Mena residents who allegedly were
involved in drug smuggling and illegal currency transactions at the
airport.
       Charles Black, the Polk County prosecuting Attorney at Mena, said
last week that he may file a case in state court if federal
indictments are not returned by the Grand Jury.

*Linked to informant*
        The Gazette reported Monday that local, state and federal
agencies are investigating a drug-smuggling ring that allegedly was
run by convicted smuggler Adler Berriman (Barry) Seal of Baton Rouge.
Sources said Seal, who became a federal informant and began working
with the Drug Enforcement Administration in March 1984, used the Mena
airport as a base of operation from early 1981 until his death
February 19, 1986, and possibly was involved in running guns to the
Nicaraguan contras.
         Seal participated in a DEA drug "sting" in July 1984 and later
flew to Mena a converted military C-123K cargo plane that was said to
have been used in the operation. The plane stayed at the airport
until mid-June 1985. It was shot down over Nicaragua in October 1986
while carrying arms and supplies to the contras.

*Shot to death*
          Seal, through his work with the DEA, also was said to have been
instrumental in the arrests of people involved in cocaine smuggling
from Colombia. Seal was later shot to death.
         Terry Capehart, a former Polk County deputy sheriff who initiated
the local investigation, and other investigators who asked not to be
identified said Seal's involvement with the government has
complicated their efforts to have prosecuted those people involved in
Seal's pre-1984 activities at the airport.
________

So whatever happened to that inquiry by
House Subcommittee on Crime, headed by 
Representative William J. Hughes (Dem., N.J.)?
I am unaware of any report or hearings from
that investigation.

Whatever happened to that Grand Jury?  Law 
enforcement officials became quite perturbed
at the U.S. Attorney for not calling the right witnesses 
nor asking the right questions.

And most important, why are cocaine traffickers 
and money launderers involved with Mena given
a "Get out of Jail FREE" card?

Larry