[null and void]

By a ridiculously wide margin, it would have to be the most successful ‘front company’ in the history of front companies.

Even compared to the cartels?

The CIA (Cocaine Importing Associates) was heavily invested in their growth for off the books funding...

[ScubaDiver]

That’s a fair point. But, I think the CIA is probably more accurately described as the business partner of these cartels rather than the cartels being ‘front companies’ for the CIA. Cocaine was getting made and sold with or without the CIA’s influence.