Juan Restoy, Trafficante, and Operation Eagle

[Scott Deitche]

Juan Restoy, former Batista political crony, (and OPeration 40 member?) was arrested in a massive drug bust in 1970. Nicknamed Operation Eagle, it brought out a who's who of Bay of Pigs Veterans and Cuban exiles who were trafficking massive quantities of narcotics. According to Cocaine Politics "As many as 70 percent of those arrested had once belonged to the Bay of Pigs invasion”

Restoy was killed in a shootout with BNDD agents.

I suspect , based on some of the figures arrested, that Santo Trafficante Jr. was financing at least part of the operation. The BNDD considered Trafficante the top Mafia figure in heroin traffic in the early 70's, beating out high profile mob finaciers from the Gambino, Luchesse, Bonnano, and especially Genovese family (though the Pleasant Avenue Connection was still going strong).

One of those arrested in Operation Eagle was Mario Escandar, a legendary figure in South Florida drug circles, and a member of Santo Trafficante's South Florida Cuban mob,which operated from ~1960 through the early 70's. Some of the others I know that were part of the group had ties to Trafficante through Miami bolita operations.

Does anyone have any additional info on Operation Eagle? Official documents are scarce and most sources I've read are sketchy.

[James Richards]

Does anyone have any additional info on Operation Eagle? (Scott Deitche)

Hi Scott,

It might be worth pointing out that in the 'Barry and the Boys' photograph, Juan Restoy may indeed be the man fifth from the left.

You probably already have this but as to Operation Eagle, the bulk of the evidence gathered to make the arrests was secured with the use of court approved wiretaps. John E. Ingersoll was the narcotics bureau guy running the show and the result was 135 people arrested. 41 in New York, 36 in Miami, 28 in Chicago, 8 in Puerto Rico, 6 in Hartford, 6 in Washington, 5 in Los Angeles, 3 in Newark, 1 in Pittsburgh, and 1 in Las Vegas.

FWIW.

James

[Scott Deitche]

Does anyone have any additional info on Operation Eagle? (Scott Deitche)

Hi Scott,

It might be worth pointing out that in the 'Barry and the Boys' photograph, Juan Restoy may indeed be the man fifth from the left.

You probably already have this but as to Operation Eagle, the bulk of the evidence gathered to make the arrests was secured with the use of court approved wiretaps. John E. Ingersoll was the narcotics bureau guy running the show and the result was 135 people arrested. 41 in New York, 36 in Miami, 28 in Chicago, 8 in Puerto Rico, 6 in Hartford, 6 in Washington, 5 in Los Angeles, 3 in Newark, 1 in Pittsburgh, and 1 in Las Vegas.

FWIW.

James

Thanks James, I did not know those arrest numbers.

Mario Escandar had his charges dropped on a technicality over authorization of his wiretap.