The point, though, is that these “sting” operations are also ideal means of hiding graft/corruption.
http://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/23/us/venezuelan-general-indicted-in-cia-scheme.html
Funny what you remember and mis-remember.
General Guillen, of the Venezuelan National Guard, working with CIA in 1990. They apparently had infiltrated the Colombians and wanted to prove their agent’s bona fides by sending some shipments through. He and CIA had permission to send a ton; they ultimately sent 22 tons which was sold on the streets.
So, legitimate or not? I remember in the same era a lot of mischief involving CIA and drugs so who knows. Your comment about “stings” being a means of hiding corruption could possibly apply here; they have permission to run a ton so they run 22 tons and sell it on the streets.
I remember a phrase I used to hear back during the Clinton years: the investigation is the cover-up. In some cases maybe the investigation is the smuggling operation.