The roots began while when the Allies gained control of the Western front and began to work on post-war control of Western Europe with the Vatican and prominent Nazis in the military and intelligence. The operation lasted decades.

The OSS —> CIA turned its attention to stopping the spread of Communism and found partners in the unholy Alliance with the Vatican and organized crime. They provided funding of covert anti-Communist troops and media across Europe to prop up pro-Democratic governments. The CIA needed a steady influx of covert funding despite an initial $400M from the Rockefeller and Mellon foundations, so they turned to a drug trade plan created by Col. Paul Helliwell from his time in China. The Vatican helped launder drug money for these activities while the America, Sicily, and Corsican mafia produced and trafficked heroin into the US with high-level government cover. The Vatican which in the 40s/50s was staunchly anti-Communist laundered the Vatican Bank which was untouchable by Italian and a lack of international authorities.

These partners developed a heroin trade network which started with Italian manufacturers —> Sicilian smugglers —> Sal Trafficante in Cuba —> Luciano/Lansky NYC port. They initially supplied heroin to only Harlem in the 50s but increased the network to other US cities to provide more Gladio funds. Other heroin operations would start up in China/Burma-Laos/Thailand. The European heroin capital would move from Sicily to Marseilles (French Connection) In the 50s because of French technological innovations.

Operation Gladio would eventually spread to Latin America as Operation Condor suppressing populist leftist movements while giving rise to the cocaine trade in the 70s/80s. The Vatican was heavily involved in the suppression of populist leftist movement driven by Catholic priests and bishops in South America and the installation of pro-USA military dictatorships like the Argentine junta and General Pinochet.

The book Operation Gladio is a dark yet fascinating study which also includes Vatican infiltration by the intelligence agency, Communist suppression activities, drug trade links to Federal government, and a secret society P2 Lodge seizing large control of Italian government, judicial system, media, the banks, and law enforcement.

[Post edited by VTDante at 07/10/2020 12:21AM]