What if the deadliest drug epidemic in American history wasn't an accident, but a covert government operation? This is the story of a conspiracy so explosive it got buried, and the one journalist who lost everything to expose it. This podcast rips open the sealed files on Gary Webb and his explosive "Dark Alliance" series—the investigation that accused the CIA of fueling the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles to fund a secret war with the Contras in Nicaragua. We'll take you back to the 1980s, onto the streets ruled by the notorious drug kingpin "Freeway" Rick Ross, and show you how his empire was allegedly built on a cocaine pipeline with direct ties to the CIA's proxy army. But this isn't just a simple conspiracy theory. We dissect the aftermath, where the full power of the media and the U.S. government descended to discredit Webb's reporting. We'll explore the official federal investigations that claimed there was no "official" plot, while also revealing the stunning admissions from the CIA's own Inspector General's report—which conceded the agency knew about Contra drug trafficking and often turned a blind eye. Was Gary Webb a journalistic hero who got too close to a terrifying truth, or did he push a narrative too far? We lay out the evidence, the denials, and the dark connections between American foreign policy and the devastation of its own cities. This is the definitive story of the Gary Webb and Dark Alliance controversy. Ready to question the official story? Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform and share this with anyone who deserves to know the truth. Your support helps us continue to uncover the stories that have been deliberately buried.

🔥 THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY IN AMERICA'S DARKEST ERA EXPOSED 🔥  From 1970 to 2000, New York City wasn't just dangerous, it was a living nightmare where 2,000 people were murdered every year and entire neighborhoods were controlled by psychopaths. In this explosive episode of Criminal Empire: Mafia Mysteries & Serial Killers, we take you into the blood-soaked streets of Fear City where serial killers hunted freely, drug dealers built empires on every corner, and the NYPD was either corrupt or completely overwhelmed by the chaos. 💀 WHEN AMERICA'S GREATEST CITY BECAME ITS GREATEST HORROR STORY 💀  This isn't just urban decay, this is the complete collapse of civilization in real time. We expose how New York transformed into a war zone where Times Square was a prostitution hellscape, Central Park became a hunting ground for rapists, and entire subway cars were mobile crime scenes. You'll hear from survivors who lived through the terror, cops who fought the losing battle, and criminals who treated the city like their personal playground. 🚨 WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of urban violence and societal breakdown 🚨 Former detectives reveal the shocking truth about how serial killers like Son of Sam and the Zodiac Copycat terrorized millions while the mafia controlled garbage collection, construction, and even the police precincts. We investigate the crack epidemic that turned mothers into monsters, the gang wars that left children afraid to go to school, and the political corruption that allowed this nightmare to continue for three decades. ⚠️ EVERY STREET CORNER WAS A POTENTIAL CRIME SCENE ⚠️ This documentary-style episode exposes how Fear City became the blueprint for urban horror that Hollywood still copies today. We reveal the disturbing statistics that government officials tried to hide, the emergency measures that failed spectacularly, and the moment when New Yorkers realized their own city was trying to kill them. From the blackout riots to the squeegee men, every aspect of daily life became a survival challenge.  🎧 This is the definitive investigation into how America's greatest city became its most dangerous nightmare. Download now to witness the transformation of New York from dream destination to living hell. Enter the Criminal Empire where entire cities become crime scenes and survival becomes an art form.

Los Angeles – the city of dreams – has become America's most violent battlefield, where children learn to duck bullets before they learn to read, and entire neighborhoods are controlled by armies of teenage soldiers armed with military-grade weapons. For over five decades, LA's gang wars have turned the nation's second-largest city into a collection of feuding territories where crossing the wrong street can mean death, and wearing the wrong color can start a war that lasts generations. In this explosive episode of Criminal Empire: Mafia Mysteries & Serial Killers, we dive deep into the blood-soaked history of LA's gang conflicts, from the rise of the Crips and Bloods in the 1970s to the current chaos involving over 450 active gangs battling for control of America's most lucrative drug markets. This isn't just about street crime – it's about urban warfare that has claimed over 15,000 lives and turned entire communities into occupied territories. We expose the origins of LA's gang culture in the ashes of the Watts riots, when young African Americans formed neighborhood protection groups that evolved into criminal armies. The rivalry between Raymond Washington's Crips and Sylvester Scott's Bloods didn't just divide LA – it created a blueprint for gang warfare that spread across America like a virus, spawning thousands of sets and claiming countless lives. Through exclusive interviews with former gang members, LAPD gang unit detectives, and federal prosecutors, we reveal the sophisticated criminal enterprises hidden behind the street violence. LA's gangs aren't just fighting over turf – they're battling for control of billion-dollar drug trafficking routes, weapons smuggling networks, and human trafficking operations that stretch from Mexico to Canada. But the story gets darker. We investigate how the crack epidemic weaponized LA's gangs, turning neighborhood crews into millionaire drug dealers armed with assault rifles and willing to kill anyone who threatened their profits. The gang wars of the 1980s and 1990s were so violent that the National Guard was deployed to patrol American streets, and entire hospital emergency rooms were converted into combat trauma centers. From the notorious 18th Street Gang's reign of terror to MS-13's brutal expansion into traditional gang territories, we examine how LA's gang landscape has evolved into a complex web of alliances and blood feuds that law enforcement can barely comprehend. We reveal the role of prison politics in directing street violence, the impact of federal deportation policies on gang recruitment, and the new generation of gang members who make their predecessors look like choir boys. This episode exposes the failed war on gangs, the political corruption that enabled their growth, and the communities caught in the crossfire of America's longest-running urban conflict. From South Central to East LA, from Compton to Hollywood, we map the invisible boundaries that divide the city and the code of silence that protects the killers. Experience the complete investigation with exclusive gang intelligence and street footage on Spreaker, or stream on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio. This is essential listening for understanding how America's gang capital became a war zone.

YouTube video by Stephanie Harlowe