The ARKANSAS GAZETTE adds a report about the House 
subcommittee investigating links around guns, drugs and
money laundering centered in Mena.

Wasn't it unprofessional of the U.S. Attorney and Justice 
Department to leave Barry Seal so vulnerable outside that 
Salvation Army where he was "Arkancided" just before he 
was to testify against Colombian drug dealers on trial in Miami?
Why was he given no security?

Larry
______________

"Panel investigating slain informant's activities"
THE ARKANSAS GAZETTE 
April 11, 1988

          BATON ROUGE  Congressional investigators are delving into the
 activities of Adler Berriman (Barry) Seal, a slain informant, as part
of an investigation of alleged narcotics-dealing, drug-running and
 money-laundering.
         The Arkansas Gazette reported in December that local, state and
federal agencies were investigating a drug-smuggling ring that
allegedly was run by Seal out of the Mena airport from early 1981
until his death February 19, 1986. Sources said Seal was possibly
involved in the running of guns to the Nicaraguan contra rebels.
        An investigator for the United States House subcommittee on crime
questioned Louisiana state troopers last week about Seal's smuggling
activities, Capt. Mark Oxley of the Louisiana State Police said. The
investigation is one of several focusing on possible United
States-supported mercenary activities prompted by last year's
revelation of Lt. Col. Oliver L. North's secret contra supply
network.
        "They went over the background of the state police involvement
with Barry Seal," Oxley said. "We shared information relative to our
investigations, over a period of time, that touched on Seal. We are
very supportive of their mission."
         State Police Col. Donald Brisolera said last month that the new
 congressional interest in Seal "centers around guns, drugs and
 money-laundering violations by Barry Seal and his associates in the
 Louisiana area."
 
--  Shot shortly before trial --
          Seal, who became an informant for the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration in March 1984, was fatally shot at Baton Rouge,
shortly before he was to testify about powerful Colombian drug
dealers under indictment at Miami. Three Colombians were convicted
of the crime last year at Lake Charles, La.

-- Acknowledges visit ---
        Haydon Gregorie, congressional general counsel, acknowledged that
an investigator had visited the state police at Baton Rouge but would
not comment on Seal's part of the investigation.
         In March, Gregorie said the investigation focused on "a number of
matters touching on criminal narcotic laws and laws governing
money-laundering and firearms possession."
        At various times, Seal stored a C-123 transport plane, a Convair
C-131 Constellation and a twin-engine Grumman Albatross in buildings
owned by Rich Mountain Aviation, which is near Mena's Intermountain
Regional Airport.
        The C-123 that had been serviced and parked at the Mena airport
from mid-1984 to mid-1985 was shot down over Nicaragua in October
1986 while carrying supplies to the contras. An Arkansan, Wallace
Blaine (Buzz) Sawyer of Magnolia, was killed in the crash.
         Many questions about his dealings with the government center on
the C-123 military transport plane, which Seal flew into and out of
Nicaragua in June 1984.
          Federal officials have contended that the plane was loaded with
cocaine allegedly exported from Nicaragua by a partnership of
Colombian cocaine kingpins and corrupt Sandinista government
officials in June 1984.
          The Iran-arms scandal investigations have produced statements
from pilots who contend Seal was involved in the smuggling of arms to
contras. Convicted drug smuggler Michael Tolliver said last year
that Seal used a "federal umbrella" to shelter his own illegal drug
dealings.