Bad boys, part two: Scientology's involvement with drug smugglers had a long legacy - 2018-05-31

Bad boys, part two: Scientology's involvement with drug smugglers had a long legacy May 31, 2018, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker

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(L. Ron and Mary Sue Hubbard were running spy operations from sea)

Yesterday, historian Chris Owen explored how Scientology's Guardian's Office mounted a secret intelligence operation in cooperation with US Customs to break up an international drug smuggling ring involving ex-Scientologists and two Sea Org vessels. Today, he continues the story with a look at the fate of the man at the center of the operation, ex-Sea Org member Jerry McDonald, and why Scientology remained under investigation for smuggling.

The Makaira was raided by eight federal, state and Marin County narcotics agents on July 15, 1970 while at anchor in San Rafael in Marin County. The authorities had suspected that it was being used to smuggle marijuana but found, in addition to a very small quantity of the drug, an arsenal of firearms comprising 35 handguns, eight rifles and shotguns, a teargas gun and two AR-17 shotguns, most of them loaded. A large quantity of ammunition and a US Army sniper scope were also on board. The seized weapons were valued at $85,000 and had recently been stolen at a Garden Grove pawnshop. It was suspected that they were being trafficked to Mexico to exchange for marijuana. McDonald and five other people on board the Makaira were arrested.

Wikipedia cite:

{{cite news | author = Tony Ortega | title = Bad boys, part two: Scientology's involvement with drug smugglers had a long legacy | url = https://tonyortega.org/2018/05/31/bad-boys-part-two-scientologys-involvement-with-drug-smugglers-had-a-long-legacy/ | work = Underground Bunker | date = May 31, 2018 | accessdate = May 31, 2018 }}