Plain-English summaryThis CIA memorandum for the record summarizes an interview of Dewey Clarridge conducted by House Judiciary Committee staffers on April 22, 1988, concerning drug trafficking allegations involving Nicaragua and the Contras. Clarridge discussed a June 1984 DEA operation in which the CIA installed hidden cameras on Barry Seal's airplane to photograph Nicaraguan officials loading cocaine, as well as a subsequent briefing in Oliver North's office before the photographs were leaked. When asked about allegations of Contra involvement in drug smuggling, Clarridge stated that those claims arose after he left the Latin American Division, leaving him unable to comment.
Key line (verbatim from the document)“The ‘focus of the briefing concerned a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) operation in June 1984 to photograph Nicaraguan government officials in Nicaragua loading cocaine onto a plane bound for the United States”
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APPROVED FOR
RELEASEUDATE: OCA 88-1404
23-Sep-2009 3 May 1988
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Interview of Dewey Clarridge by House Judiciary Committee
Staff
1. On 22 April 1988, Jim Dahl. and Haydon Gregory, staffers
from the Subcommittee on Crime of the House Judiciary Committee,
interviewed Dewey Clarridge regarding his knowledge of drug
trafficking by the Nicaraguan government or the Contras. The
‘focus of the briefing concerned a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
operation in June 1984 to photograph Nicaraguan government
officials in Nicaragua loading cocaine onto a plane bound for the
United States. .The plane was piloted by a DEA informant, Barry
Seal, and the hidden cameras were installed by the Agency
on the
plane in Miami.
2. During the briefing Dewey recalled being asked by DEA to.
install a hidden camera on the plane piloted by Barry Seal. Dewey
. stated that it was his understanding that the photographs would be
given to DEA to use in a possible trial. The Agency's role in the?
entire operation was merely to support a law enforcement under-
taking. Dewey recalls that one of the individuals photographed
loading cocaine onto the plane was Federico Vaughan, an aide to
the Nicaraguan Interior Minister.
3.
“4. Dewey recalls that not long after obtaining the
_ photographs of Nicaraguan government officials loading cocaine
_ into the plane, a briefing was arranged by DEA in North's office.
Dewey was present at. the briefing, but cannot recall why he was
present for the briefing; he did not know whether the DEA © ee
operation was over at the time of the briefing. a
s after the briefing in
6. Mr. Gregory noted that a few week to the Washington Times. -
North's office, the pictures were leaked on his
know whether North or anyone
Dewey stated that he did not Dewey did rem emb er
newspaper.
staff leaked the pictures tb the es in her re-election effort.
that Paula Hawkins used the pic tur
series of questions dealing
7. Mr. Gregory also asked Dewey a with drug smuggling. Dewey
lvement
with allegations of Contra. invo left the Lati n .,
‘responded that these allegations arose after he to
he was not in a position
American Division, and therefore
comment on the allegations.
LegislatiLou vivis n
Officeof Congressional Affairs
' Distribution:
Original - OCA/Legislation Subject File
a Signer -
1 - OCA/Registry
1_- D/OCA:
ocA/Leg/ | (3 May 1988)
