Have the CIA and the US Military Been Involved in Massive Heroin Trade Between the US and Afghanistan? 

As I admitted above, I haven’t read Seth Harp’s book yet – but judging from Tucker Carlson’s interview with him, and from a bit of research I asked Nigel to do, it’s pretty clear that members of the US military and the CIA have been involved in importing heroin into the US for about 40 years.

Here are some of the facts:

Historical Background 
Since the Soviet Afghan War (1979-1989), Afghanistan has become the world’s largest producer of opium, the raw material for heroin. Despite US claims to eradicate drug production, the heroin trade has persisted and even expanded over the decades.

CIA’s Alleged Role 
Multiple investigative reports and whistleblower testimony suggest that the CIA has maintained secret relationships with drug traffickers in Afghanistan. The most cited example is its support for the Mujahideen fighters, who allegedly turned a blind eye or directly profited from heroin trafficking to fund their military efforts against the Soviets.

Operation Mockingbird & Ongoing Allegations 
Historically, critics and some whistleblowers, like Gary Webb, claimed the CIA intentionally allowed or engaged in drug trafficking to fund covert operations, including during the Iran-Contra scandal. Webb’s 1990s reporting linked CIA-supported Contra rebels to cocaine trafficking in California, and reputedly involved drug money helping fund operations in Central America and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan After 2001 
After the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the country once again stabilized its position as the world’s top opium producer. Despite NATO’s anti-drug efforts, reports suggest that elements within the Pentagon, intelligence agencies, and local warlords continued to profit from opium cultivation and heroin trafficking, often with tacit or active support.

US Military and CIA Ties 
Some declassified documents and investigative reports point to the CIA’s continued ties with Afghan warlords, some of whom are deeply involved in heroin trafficking. Evidence indicates that these relationships allowed traffickers to operate with minimal interference, and some officials have alleged that the US tolerated or indirectly benefitted from the opium trade as a stabilizing tool.

Whistleblower Testimonies & Reports 
* Gary Webb’s 1990s reporting claimed that the CIA-funded Contras supported drug trafficking. His work was heavily criticized but remains influential among skeptics.
* Ron Paul, in various speeches, alleged that American military and intelligence support in Afghanistan has helped drug traffickers grow their influence.
* Recent investigative journalism (e.g., by Brown University’s Watson Institute and independent researchers) highlights ongoing concerns about the drug trade’s persistence and possible complicity or actions by US agencies.

Official Denials & Lack of Transparency 
The US government and CIA officially deny any direct involvement in drug trafficking. However, a lack of full transparency and ongoing classified operations keep suspicions alive. Many experts argue that the drug trade in Afghanistan remains, in part, fueled by clandestine relationships that serve strategic or financial interests of certain powerful actors.