Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World Highlight

Serving in Vietnam, Secord was part of a CIA apparatus that flew planeloads of gold into Laos and bribed tribal groups to join America’s efforts. To incorporate these groups into the world market as fast as possible, U.S. operatives helped expand regional opium production and hooked up smuggling lines, including avenues to American troops, who then directed the contraband into the United States, where it had a deleterious effect on U.S. city life.