A former State Department official has raised serious allegations against the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), claiming the agency was involved in illicit drug networks. Mike Benz, who served in the department, suggested that USAID had been complicit in drug trafficking operations, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Benz claims that USAID purchased two CIA-proprietary aircraft, which were then used to transport drugs from Cambodia into Vietnam. According to Benz, these drugs were subsequently sold on the retail market, fueling the illegal drug trade in the region. His comments add to long-standing suspicions and concerns about USAID’s involvement in various controversial operations abroad.
In addition, Benz alleges that USAID spent “hundreds of millions of dollars irrigating all of the heroin, the poppy fields in Afghanistan,” suggesting the agency indirectly supported the cultivation of opium, a key ingredient in heroin production. He pointed out the troubling connection between U.S. foreign aid and drug networks, implying that it is difficult to identify a drug operation that USAID has not, at some point, been involved with—either directly or indirectly—through financial support or logistical capacity building.
These accusations have sparked outrage and raised critical questions about the role of USAID in foreign drug networks. While the agency is traditionally known for its humanitarian and development work, these allegations could seriously damage its reputation and prompt further investigations into the activities and oversight of U.S. foreign aid programs.
