Allegations of drug smuggling Air America (airline)



during cia s secret war in laos, cia used meo (hmong) population fight pathet lao rebels. because of war against pathet lao rebels, hmong depended upon poppy cultivation hard currency. plain of jars had been captured pathet lao rebels in 1964 resulted in laotian air force not being able land c-47 transport aircraft on plain of jars opium transport. laotian air force had no light planes land on dirt runways near mountaintop poppy fields. having no way transport opium, hmong faced economic ruin. air america airline available in northern laos. according several unproven sources, air america began flying opium mountain villages north , east of plain of jars gen vang pao s headquarters @ long tieng.


air america alleged have profited transporting opium , heroin on behalf of hmong leader vang pao, or of turning blind eye laotian military doing it. allegation has been supported former laos cia paramilitary anthony poshepny (aka tony poe), former air america pilots, , other people involved in war. portrayed in movie air america. however, university of georgia historian william m. leary, writing on behalf of air america, claims done without airline employees direct knowledge , airline did not trade in drugs. curtis peebles denies allegation, citing leary s study evidence.








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