Judging Freedom Sheriff David Hathaway : The Real Latin American Drug Runners
Jan 7, 2026
Sheriff David Hathaway, a former DEA supervisor with three decades of experience, dives into the complexities of drug trafficking in Latin America. He reveals intriguing insights on the DEA's origins from CIA operatives and the controversial use of military resources in the drug war. Hathaway sheds light on the CIA's alleged involvement in trafficking and funding covert operations, as well as the troubling practices in U.S. judicial tactics. His critique of the Maduro indictment and the phenomenon of 'ghost dope' sentencing highlights the murky intersection of politics and law enforcement.
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DEA Origin Tied To CIA Cold War Legacy
- The DEA grew directly out of CIA covert operations after Congress curtailed the Vietnam-era actions in 1973.
- Nixon signed an executive order creating the DEA the same day he signed the Case-Church Amendment, shifting Cold War operatives into the drug war.
CIA's Unaccountable Operational Model
- CIA and DEA missions diverge: DEA arrests and prosecutes while CIA conducts intelligence without courtroom testimony.
- The CIA will not seize evidence or testify, making its drug-related operations unaccountable in court.
Drugs Funded Covert Central American Ops
- Hathaway references Iran-Contra-style operations where drugs funded covert actions, citing Gary Webb's Dark Alliance.
- He explains cocaine was moved through Mexico and sold in the U.S. to finance illegal Central American operations.
