Celerino Castillo, DEA

WEBSTER TARPLEY:
I'd like to go immediately to the very interesting book that
you've put together <*Powderburns: Cocaine, Contras & the Drug [br />War*]. On page 132 of that book, you describe a kind of cameo
appearance by Vice President George Bush. I believe this was in
Guatemala City in January of 1986, and that would have been
shortly after the inauguration of the new Guatemalan President
Cerezo. I'd just like to acquaint our viewers with that
conversation, the events that led up to it, that followed it, and
revolved around it, because this seems to sum up the heart of the
matter.


CELERINO CASTILLO:
Basically, what happened there, was that at that time, Jan. 14,
1986, to be exact, George Bush was in Guatemala City. At the same
time that George Bush was there, I also saw Calero, head of the
Contras, and Oliver North. And I met George Bush at the cocktail
party at the ambassador's residence, and basically, what he was
doing, was walking around, shaking hands with everybody. And he
came up to me, and asked me what my job description was as DEA
agent. And I told him that I conducted international narcotics
investigations on traffickers down in Central America. I also
advised him that I was the agent in charge of reporting for El
Salvador, and I forewarned him that there were some funny things
going on at Ilopango Airport, with the Contras. He shook my hand,
he smiled, and he just walked away from me, without saying
another word. From that moment, I knew he knew something about
the Contras.


TARPLEY:
That's what you write: "He simply smiled and walked away, seeking
another hand to shake. After that exchange, I knew that he knew."


CASTILLO:
That's correct.


TARPLEY:
What did George Bush know, and when did he know it?


CASTILLO:
Before my arrival in Guatemala, we had received intelligence that
the Contras were heavily involved in narcotics trafficking.
Basically, I was forewarned by the country attache' in Guatemala,
Bob Stia, upon my arrival, that there was a covert operation
being conducted by the White House, and run by Oliver North at
Ilopango in El Salvador.

CONTINUED...