Dedicated to the DEA, USCG, USBP, and various US armed services members who supported our Latin American neighbors during Operation Snowcap, our Drug War, 1986-1994.

This blog is intended to shed light on a rather obscure program within DEA, that ran from 1986 through 1994. Although bemoaned by most of the top brass for several reasons, we the minions thoroughly enjoyed participating in helping our counterpart brethren in Latin America take the 'Drug War' fight straight to the source. Thousands of kilos of cocaine were seized, hundreds of traffickers arrested, countless laboratories destroyed, and enumerable airplanes taken in this attack on the very infrastructure of the drug trade on its home turf.

'Inside DEA Operation Snowcap'

The book relates the story of this era, as portrayed through many of the videos below, and is available from Amazon (above) and elsewhere

The videos

There are now eighteen videos for your viewing below, all linked through 'You Tube,' please check back as more will be posted as they become available

The blog

Anecdotal commentary on the current videos provided through this blog

Please join us through the book, videos and blog for a departure from the 'comfort zone' on this adventure (from the relative safety of your armchair).

Bob Hartman

Bob Hartman

Your host

Welcome! I’m a retired DEA agent and ten tour Snowcap veteran with service in Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, and Colombia

Raid team hits Colombian plane landing at clan strip Peru, pilots wounded 50 kilos seized

Check this raid out in live action, click here

Bolivian Trafficker plane captured in the Chapare, 75 kilos cocaine

Check this raid out in live action, click here

1,650 kilos cocaine seized near Sapasoa Peru airport

Check this raid out in live action, click here

Bolivian plane, cocaine (hcl), and estancia seizure by USBP members

Check this raid out in live action, click here

Night raid Peru, twin engine & 550 kilos cocaine, shots fired

Check this raid out in live action, click here

Raid team hits Colombian twin landing on Peruvian highway, 500 kilos cocaine seized

Check this raid out in live action, click here

The day after twin on left captured, raid on nearby restaurant, 500 kilos more!

Check this raid out in live action, click here

Raid on jungle 'caleta,' weapons and over 350 kilos cocaine seized

Check this raid out in live action, click here

The DEA Casa aircraft

This workhorse was used by Snowcap in every country, click here for brief description
Surveillance while on missions was critical

Surveillance while on missions was critical

Major role was disruption of trafficker transport of all types, click here for brief description

Overview, cocaine labs in the Huallaga valley Peru

Peru labs produced 'base' cocaine for export to Colombia, where it was finalized into hcl. click here for a look at them
We had an amazing 'asset' available, able to watch at night from above

We had an amazing 'asset' available, able to watch at night from above

This would provide leads for many great seizures, like this $570,000 USC from Bella Vista Peru. Click here to watch results

Some trafficking planes brought down by Military action from below, a few through "Divine Intervention" from above...

Every tour we recovered some evidence from planes brought down by actions taken outside of Snowcap Ops. Click here for a brief view

An assist to Bolivia 'Screaming Eagle' program, recap and evidence from tour

Screaming Eagle was a chemical sweep of planes, seizure when positive for cocaine, notorious San Bora and Santa Ana raided

Oct '93 - 1st Colombia mission, raids on Venezuela frontier and huge clan airstrip, fuel and precursor stash

The 'Jungla' cops great to work with, with fall of 'Pablo' during tour end of Snowcap in sight

Link to D. Taylor post, you tube [segment]

1,200+ kilos cocaine & weapons during Op ‘Rempalo,’ Caballacocha Peru ‘93

Link to D. Taylor post, you tube [segment]

Over 500 kilos cocaine, 5 defendants in Huallaga valley raid, Peru Aug '90

Link to D. Taylor post, you tube [segment]

Huge base cocaine lab raid Peru '93; vast amount of precursors, generator, micros, heat lamps, radios & scanners, living qtrs.
Magazine article 'Land Cuisers of the Drug War,' by Mike Perez

Magazine article 'Land Cuisers of the Drug War,' by Mike Perez

Photo-packed article by Veteran Mike Perez on the challenges of navigating the jungle frontier by vehicle during this conflict!

Blog

Let us hear from you, below or harts4.rh@gmail.com

An Updated Video Guide

In the seven years Operation Snowcap actively deployed we lost six agents, all killed in plane crashes. Snowcap would also serve as the predecessor and model for DEA’s ‘FAST’ teams (Foreign-deployed Advisory and Support Teams), Read more…