central london helicopter tour

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London Helicopter Tour for 1

£ 210.00 £ 195.00

Take to the skies in an exciting  extended 50 minute London helicopter flight over famous London landmarks in this exhilarating helicopter tour from our exclusive VIP London base near the M25 and M40. Get your extended London helicopter tour booked today.

Contact: 01494 769 976

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Description

Additional information.

This extended 50 minute London helicopter flight takes you right to the heart of London, giving everyone the opportunity to see many of the world’s greatest landmarks. You can choose to fly from our exclusive London helicopter facility near the M25 and M40, and take this famous helicopter tour.

The London Helicopter Flight:

• Exciting extended helicopter flight of 50 minutes flying over iconic London sights
• Over  60 minute experience including 50 minutes flight time in the helicopter
• Covers approximately 77 miles
• Departs from Heli Air London – High Wycombe (Buckinghamshire, London)
• R44 helicopter or similar
• Price is per person for 1 seat
• Multiple single seat purchases cannot be guaranteed to be on the same flight
• Helicopter shared with other passengers
• Voucher will be emailed to you after purchase for quick delivery
• Option to upgrade to a bespoke exclusive London flight

Our friendly staff at our exclusive London helicopter location will welcome you upon your arrival, and offer you a fresh tea or coffee whilst you prepare for your London Helicopter Tour. After your pre flight safety brief you will be taken to the helicopter, given the opportunity to take some amazing photographs, then taken onto the helicopter for the flight experience of a lifetime. If you enjoy the flight, why not learn to fly a helicopter with one of our introductory lessons?

London Helicopter Flight Voucher Also Includes:

• Free parking
• 7 days per week booking facility subject to availability
• Photo opportunities
• Ability to rebook at no extra cost  if poor weather causes flight to be cancelled
• 24 month validity
• Relaxed meet and greet with the pilot at our London helicopter base prior to the helicopter flight

London Helicopter Tour Location

The helicopter flight departs from our exclusive Heli Air London base at Wycombe Air Park, Buckinghamshire, right on the edge of London with good rail links and near the M25 and M40. It is an easy journey either from the centre of London, or any of the surrounding areas such as Isleworth, Watford, Sunbury to name but a few There is free parking available during your flight, and a café at the airfield for a relaxing lunch before or after your London helicopter sightseeing tour.

Further information:

Must be 4 or over, under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.

Valid at Heli Air London – High Wycombe (SL7 3DP).

18 stone weight limit per person.

Flight depends on visibility, operational and weather conditions, but will be rebooked at no extra cost if the Helicopter Flight is cancelled due to any of these reasons.

Once booked, the customer must give 2 weeks’ notice to Heli Air to reschedule their booking, otherwise the voucher will be counted as redeemed. This does not apply if Heli Air reschedules the booking due to unsuitable weather or operational reasons.

Flight time based on average for tours, can vary slightly due to factors such as air traffic control and wind speed.

These introductory / air experience flights are not required to conform to the same safety regulations as those conducting Commercial Air Transport (CAT) / Public Transport (PT) operations.

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Heli Air Main Switchboard: 01789 470476 | Heli Air Engineering: 01494 451111 | Email Enquiry

Head Office Address, Heli Air Limited, Wellesbourne Airfield, Warwickshire, CV35 9EU

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London Sightseeing Helicopter Tour

On a 35-minute flight, soar above central london, the river thames, and surrey countryside.

Eager to escape the crowded streets of London and experience a breathtaking view few have the privilege to see? Our London Sightseeing Helicopter Tour is expertly designed to whisk you away on a 35-minute flight, offering a bird's eye perspective of Central London, the meandering River Thames, and the picturesque Surrey countryside. Thanks to our passenger-friendly Robinson R44 helicopter, each guest will enjoy superb views along with expert commentary.

• 35-minute helicopter ride over London​
• Leave from Redhill Aerodome
• See London's top sights from the air
• Experienced pilot
• Pre-flight safety briefing
• Uninterrupted views
• Robinson R44 Helicopter
• The best way to see London

Begin your adventure at the Redhill Aerodrome, on the outskirts of London, where you’ll be treated to picturesque views of an active airfield and take in a short but important safety briefing. Soon thereafter, buckle into the perfect touring helicopter, the Robinson R44, and start your flight over the scenic Surrey countryside.

Next, continue into the heart of London and keep your eye out for the winding River Thames and iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament, Millennium Eye, and Tower Bridge. Along the way, delight in expert commentary from your pilot, snap once-in-a-lifetime photos, and appreciate the sprawl of London below—all before landing back at the Redhill Aerodrome 35 minutes later.

London Sightseeing Helicopter Tour Description

Your 35-minute tour includes:

Flight across Central London and Surrey countryside

Detailed commentary from a professional pilot

An unmatched view of iconic London landmarks

Essential safety briefing pre-flight

A comfortable journey in Robinson R44 helicopters ensures a window view for every passenger

Meet at the Redhill Aerodrome

At a predesignated time, typically somewhere between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, arrive at the Redhill Aerodrome to begin your thrilling adventure. As you await your flight, take a moment to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere that the busy runway provides and watch as small planes and helicopters buzz in and out of the area. Then, listen to a short but essential safety briefing before boarding. Your helicopter is the Robinson R44, which seats up to three passengers, allowing everyone to have a window seat.

Fly Over Surrey Countryside and the M25

As the helicopter propellers churn and the ground slowly fades away, find yourself soaring over the picturesque Surrey countryside. These rural landscapes, a blend of emerald fields and scattered settlements, offer a calming start to your flight. Then, before the urban marvels of London come into view, catch sight of the M25, London’s prominent motorway.

Admire Central London From Above

Now for the grand spectacle: a bird’s eye view of Central London! At a soaring height just above the iconic Shard, you’ll witness Central London sprawl below with its mix of centuries-old structures and modern skyscrapers. The Houses of Parliament, Millennium Eye, and Tower Bridge are just a few of the sights you'll hover above. And to make your journey even more memorable, your pilot will provide insightful commentary and share intriguing fun facts along the way.

However, all too soon, it'll be time to begin your descent. Touching back down at Redhill Aerodrome, you'll no doubt leave with a newfound respect for the ever-evolving city of London.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring?

A good camera, a photo ID, and your sense of adventure!

Is this tour run by The Tour Guy?

No, this tour is operated by one of our trusted and vetted partners in London.

What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?

If you have any doubts about your mobility, please let us know beforehand. This tour includes navigating in and out of a helicopter.

What happens if it rains?

We run our London helicopter tour rain or shine. If the weather is extremely bad and we cannot proceed with the tour, we'll let you know as soon as possible.

Is there a dress code for this London helicopter tour?

There is no dress code to join our London helicopter tour, but please ensure you wear respectful clothing.

Is lunch or dinner included in the price of the tour?

Food is not included in the price of the tour. However, your guide will be happy to recommend one of their favorite lunch or dinner spots after the tour.

Can I bring my kids, and do I have to pay for them?

Everyone age 6 and older is welcome on our London helicopter tour, and the price will be the same no matter the ages booked.

Why do I have to pay for my child who's under 6 years old?

Our minimum age is 6 years old, and we charge a set rate for the helicopter experience. So, the fare will be the same for everyone on the booking. This is because there is a limited number of seats, and everyone must have their own seat for safety reasons. 

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

No, hotel pickup is not included on this tour. You'll meet your guide at the Redhill Aerodrome.

Where does this tour end?

This tour finishes at the Redhill Aerodrome. Our guides are happy to offer recommendations if you'd like to continue exploring London afterward.

Free 24-hr cancellation on group tours! Learn more

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London Helicopter Tour - Blackbushe

Blackbushe airport, united kingdom.

from £200 / seat

Subject to full helicopter

Embark on a thrilling 30-minute private helicopter tour of London and be sure to see all of the iconic sights of the vibrant British capital.

Departing from Blackbushe airport, located west from central London, you'll experience the thrill of the helicopter flight as you rise above the lush English countryside and enjoy the captivating skyline of Central London.

Book your helicopter experience now through us. Please note that those tours are private, and as such, bookings per seat are not available. The helicopter is reserved solely for you and your companions (up to three) to ensure an unforgettable experience.

What to expect during your helicopter tour London?

Get ready to be blown away as the breathtaking English countryside seamlessly gives way to the vibrant outskirts of one of the world's most legendary metropolises. Brace yourself for an extraordinary aerial journey that will unveil the renowned landmarks:

• Buckingham Palace
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Tower Bridge
• The O2 arena
• Canary Wharf

Prepare for an exhilarating helicopter flight over London, where you'll have the unique opportunity to witness the city's iconic sights from an entirely new and thrilling perspective. Don't let this extraordinary adventure slip away - reserve your place on the London Helicopter sightseeing tour today and embark on a mind-blowing experience that will leave you spellbound.

In which Helicopter will I fly?

The Robinson R44 helicopter is the perfect aircraft for small groups of adventure-seekers who want to experience the thrill of flight. With a spacious cabin that can accommodate up to three passengers and a pilot, this helicopter is perfect for intimate tours of the city.

Equipped with a powerful engine, the Robinson R44 offers a smooth and stable ride as you fly through the air. Its large windows provide stunning panoramic views of the landscape below, allowing you to soak up the beauty of your surroundings from a bird's eye view.

How long doest the London helicopter tour last?

For your helicopter tour, we want to ensure that you have an unforgettable and enjoyable experience. That's why we recommend allowing a full hour for your tour, even though the flying time is only 30 minutes. 

As your tour comes to an end, our crew will guide you back to the ground safely and smoothly. You'll be able to reflect on the stunning sights and amazing experience you've had, and perhaps even start planning your next helicopter tour adventure with us.

How to get to Blackbushe Airport?

Located on the borders of Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey, Blackbushe Airport is perfectly located for quick access both to central London as well as to the Thames Valley and South of England.  If you're visiting London and want to experience the capital city from above, the best is to take a train from Waterloo station to Farnborough and finish the last few miles to Blackbushe airport with a cab. For ease of transport, you can also hire a cab directly in London and get to the airport in roughly 1h20minutes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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London Helicopter Tours – 6 Of The Best

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Picture London in all its glory stretched out before you.

Now imagine soaring over that cityscape in a helicopter, taking in the sights and sounds of one of the world’s most famous metropolises from a whole new perspective.

London helicopter tours allow visitors to do just that.

Whether you’re looking for a unique way to celebrate a special occasion or you’re simply curious about what London looks like from the air, these tours are sure to amaze you.

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about London helicopter tours: how much they cost, what you’ll see on your tour, and more.

What To Expect On London Helicopter Tour s

A London helicopter tour offers a unique and unforgettable view of the city.

During your flight, you’ll have the opportunity to see London’s famous landmarks and attractions from a whole new perspective.

Riding in a helicopter can be a thrilling experience.

If you’re new to flying, it’s important to listen carefully to the safety briefing and stay seated with your seatbelt fastened during the flight.

The best way to enjoy your London helicopter tour is to relax and take it all in.

The views are simply amazing and worth the price tag.

Be sure to bring along a camera to capture all the memories.

What To Wear On A Helicopter Ride

When taking a helicopter ride, it’s important to dress comfortably and appropriately.

Most people choose to wear jeans and a T-shirt, or sweatpants and a hoodie.

In terms of shoes, it’s best to wear something that won’t slip off your feet or cause you to trip.

Tennis shoes or sandals are usually a good choice.

And finally, make sure to bring along a hat or sunglasses to protect you from the sun.

Different Helicopter Tours Available

There are several different helicopter tour companies and packages, each with its own unique set of sights to see.

So no matter what your interests are, there’s sure to be a tour that’s perfect for you.

However, before booking your London helicopter flight, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• There are several different tour packages, so be sure to choose the one that best suits your interests and needs.
• Helicopter tours can come with a hefty price tag, so be prepared to spend a bit of money if you want to experience this unique view of London.
• Make sure to book your helicopter tour well in advance, as spaces tend to fill up quickly.
• Remember to pack appropriately for your flight; comfortable clothes and shoes are recommended.

Adventure 001 Helicopter Pleasure Flight

If you’re after a breathtaking aerial view of the UK, look no further than Adventure 001.

They offer some of the best helicopter pleasure flights over London.

Choose from various flight packages ranging from a six-mile helicopter tour to a 60-minute flight over central London – there’s something for everyone.

You’ll be able to see the rural countryside, coastline, landmarks, and cities all while enjoying a fantastic bird’s eye view.

London Helicopter Sightseeing Flights

Another top helicopter tour company is London Helicopters.

They provide three different helicopter flights, lasting 20 to 30 minutes each, that can accommodate up to 6 people.

While their touring rates are high – starting at £160 and going as much as £600 per person – they do offer gift vouchers so a group of friends or family can go in together for a present.

You could also purchase your voucher(s) bit by bit until you have saved enough money for your own personal helicopter sightseeing tour.

50-Minute Helicopter Tour Over London for Two

For 50 minutes, soar over London in a helicopter with somebody you love and see popular landmarks and attractions.

Enjoy tea or coffee while enjoying the pre-flight safety briefing.

Get an opportunity to take a show-off snapshot before taking off, then get comfortable onboard a Robinson R66 helicopter -or similar.

An experienced pilot will then take you on an exciting journey above London’s skyline to capture monumental landmarks and more from high up in the sky.

20-Minute London VIP Helicopter Tour and Bubbly for Two

If you’re searching for an unforgettable, romantic date , look no further.

Few things are more breathtaking than a helicopter flight over London while enjoying champagne.

Soar through the sky with your significant other for 20 minutes and take in stunning views of the cityscape below.

And what could be more festive than toasting freshly poured glasses of bubbly before boarding?

The James Bond Experience

Feel like you’re in a James Bond movie by going on an exciting 50-minute Jet boat ride along the Thames with Thamesjet.

You’ll get to see all the sights while flying high in a helicopter for 10 minutes with The London Helicopter.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see London landmarks from a different perspective.

20-Minute Football Stadium Helicopter Tour and Bubbly for Two

Spoil a football fan with an unforgettable helicopter tour for two.

After arriving, you will be given a safety briefing before setting off on an exhilarating tour of your choice of famous football stadiums from the skies.

Take in stunning bird’s-eye views over Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium, West Ham at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park , or the Magpies at St. James’ Park.

How Much Do London Helicopter Rides Cost?

Several different helicopter tour packages do come with a pretty hefty price tag.

You can find some budget-friendly options, but most tours cost anywhere from £175 to £395 per person.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience that will allow you to see London in a whole new way, then the cost of these tours is worth it.

If you’re looking for a unique gift for London lovers, helicopter tour vouchers make the perfect present.

No matter which company you choose, you’re sure to give the gift of a lifetime.

How To Book A Helicopter Tour Of London

If you’re interested in booking a London helicopter tour, the first thing you need to do is visit the company’s website.

There, you can find all of the information you need about the variety of tour packages available.

Once you’ve chosen the tour that’s right for you, simply book and make your payment. It’s as simple as that!

London has so much to offer tourists and residents alike.

A London helicopter tour is a fun, unique way to see all the amazing sites the city has to offer.

Helicopter tours come in a variety of packages, so there’s something for everyone.

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option or want to splash out on an extravagant experience, there’s a London helicopter tour that’s perfect for you.

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London Landmark Helicopter Tour

£895 for upto 6 people.

A truly special way to see the sights of London with exclusive use of our six-seater helicopter for a flight over central London’s key landmarks.  

You will be welcomed at the flight reception lounge with freshly ground coffee and cold drinks, where there are great views of the city from the ground here. One of the team will then run through the flight with you - what to expect and a short health and safety briefing.  After this it's out to the helipad and time to buckle up for the ride!

Now it’s time to leave the crowds behind and take to the skies where our pilots will provide an in-depth commentary of the city's key landmarks as you fly along the famous River Thames.  This really is a very special experience sure to take your breath away!

You will be able to see all of the following attractions from the most unique perspective:

• Clapham Junction

• Stamford Bridge

• Olympia

• Royal Albert Hall

• Hyde Park

• Battersea Park

• Battersea Power Station

• Oval Cricket Ground

• Houses of Parliament

• Westminster Abbey

• Buckingham Palace

• Marble Arch

• Trafalgar Square

• London Eye

• British Museum

• St Pauls Cathedral

• Gherkin & financial district

• The Shard

A true once in a lifetime experience that soars above all other tourist attractions!

A private helicopter flight over London’s top landmarks.

Air time 12 minutes.

Exclusive use of the six seater helicopter.

Unlimited photography permitted.

The best, uninterrupted, views of the world’s greatest city!

Departs from Battersea.

Location:  Battersea, London, SW11 3BE

PRODUCT INFO

Price is for exclusive hire of the entire helicopter.

Maximum group size of 6 

12 minute flight time. (Extensions available)

Session is private, exclusively for your guests. 

Transfers and hotel connections available.

  Please dress weather appropriate. 

Wrap up warm and bring a spare layer. 

WHAT TO BRING

Do bring a camera or video recorder.

Under current Civil Aviation Authority guidelines, you are not permitted to take any of the following items on to an aircraft: acid, poison, flammable liquids, explosives, matches, lighters, bleach, incapacitating sprays, ignitable gas devices, compressed gas.  

HOW TO GET THERE

The venue is serviced by overland, underground trains and buses. The easiest way from central London is to take a train from Victoria, 12 minutes to Clapham Junction then a 12 minute walk north to the venue.  The nearest underground station is Clapham Common on the Northern line - the walk is approximately 20 minutes or a short taxi ride from here. Taxis from central London take roughly 20-25 minutes.  Venue postcode is SW11 3BE.

• Helicopter Tours

Best London helicopter tours

Well I've taken my time to discover all available, yet achievable helicopter tours anyone can take out of the capital, I've selected ten of my best helicopter tours in London.

To consider the best London helicopter tours; duration of flight with value for money should be taken into consideration. Well a London helicopter tour for one would be more flexible, yet a tour for two may be cheaper. My best heli tours have all the captials landmarks to be seen from the air .

• London Heli Flight with Lunch at Gordon Ramsay's House for Two

London Sights Charter For Six

London max exclusive helicopter ride for six, 20 minute london helicopter flight for one, london helicopter buzz flight, 20 minute helicopter flight of london for one.

• Surrey Countryside, London Skyline Helicopter Tour for Two

London Helicopter Tour for One

Central london helicopter flight for two, exclusive central london tour with champagne.

Did you know I had to explore up to a hundred possible helicopter flights that evolve around or over london from all tour operators I could find.

I then refined my best of the lot by listing them from best to worst. In the end I could only select ten of the best helicopter tours of London.

If I am being honest, if I were to list any more tours, then I would be adding tours that are quite similar in regard to the flight path and service on offer.

In refining my list, I've taken into consideration by only selecting mostly helicopter flights out of Central London, with tour duration and extra's that maybe available to you.

Know one will get the most out of a London heli tour in five minutes, and well a 10 minutes tour is limited somewhat, that time duration is available.

Where you depart from will determine the flight path you take over central London.

But as most flights start at Battersea, assume that the helicopter will follow the River Themes well zigzagging up and over to get as close to major Landmarks at possible.

Best heli tours should include the best tourists spots in London, therefore they will feature all major landmarks including:

Houses of Parliament, Westminster Cathedral, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, the Globe Theatre, the Gherkin, Cheese Grater, Walkie Talkie, The Shard, HMS Belfast, London Bridge, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

Although viewing the Olympic Stadium, Wembley Stadium, Canary Wharf, the O2, London City Airport and the Thames Barrier will require quite the detour by your pilot.

Flights out of Central London

I consider the best London helicopter tours as those ones that fly directly out of central London - as oppose to leaving London to then only take a flight back over it.

Visiting London from abroad or indeed from within the UK can be really off putting with more expense needed to take public transport to the airfield you're departing from.

Your precise time is wasted getting to the heliport when you could be using it more productively - like seeing the sights, shopping or going to the theatre.

Not so with helicopter tours out of Central London; with only a quick train, tube or taxi ride to mostly Battersea London Heliport on the southbank.

Its also within distance of Central London where the location can be walked if need be.

Extended time to make it worth it

Well close approximately to the centre of London is ideal, one thing you should be considering when taking a London helicopter tour is... how long is the flight.

And when I say flight, I only mean the time you will spend up in the air. Not total time that includes safety briefing or time taking pictures with the pilot out of the chopper.

London is one of the biggest capital cities in the world; so all helicopter tours that are only minutes long will not be worth your money, so spend a little more, for more time.

Five minutes or so will not provide enough timeo for you to see anything due to the lack of distance you will be unable to reach in just 5 minutes.

Instead, those helicopter tours I think are the best are those ones that are a minimum 10 minutes long; with anywhere up to 20 minutes or more better still.

All flights out of London are expensive, even more so the longer the duration of your tour.

Services that go beyond flights

In order to keep the cost down many of you would probably be thinking of helicopter tour only, with no additional services thrown in as to avoid more expense.

But I can't list my best London helicopter tours that don't include luxury flights that are more suited to the more well-off.

So with that in mind, at least you can see what you could of had, rather than not knowing about it all together.

If you're familiar with helicopter tour companies, you'll notice many put on bells and whistles to make the experience more memorable.

In order to do that they will offer helicopter rides with a glass of champagne; not the whole bottle I might add - and perhaps flowers and a set meal or lunch.

All this does come at great expense, so its worth paying a little extra for a glass of champagne, well the other add-on's can wait for another time.

My top 10 best helicopters tours of London

I've tried to organize my favorite heli tours by best to worse, so you might have other thoughts which are best.

London Heli Flight with Lunch at Gordon Ramsay's London House for Two

2 People, 10 minutes, £449.00 with Virgin Experience Days via Edmiston London Heliport

Take a helicopter experience you won't forget for two which includes a beautiful lunch at Gorden Ramsay's fancy restaurant in close proximity to the heliport after the flight.

Once you've had your safety briefing and you're all strapped in the helicopter, up and away you go viewing the major landmarks across London.

Well the chopper will fly up to 2000ft. above the city, its only here where you'll see Central London - from a distance rather than close up.

And that's how you'll see the rest of the London; looking left or right out of the helicopter well the pilot follows the strict helicopter route for tourists over the capital.

Once you've arrived back at the Battersea London heliport; you'll descend the heli to begin your journal to the restaurant where a booking will be under your name.

6 People, 20 Minutes, £1,500 with intotheblue.co.uk via Edmiston London Heliport

Not one for those on a budget this one, but one of the best London helicopter tours you must take if there's a group of six.

It must be a group of six people with not a person more or less to qualify for the chartered, privately put on pleasure flight over London for a group of friends or a family helicopter flight like no other.

There's plenty to see in this time as the flight will last 20 minutes; which is all the time you'll need to enjoy Central London at its finest.

You and your fellow passengers will see from a far: Hyde Park, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St Paul Cathedral.

Then farther a field you'll go on to view City Hall, Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf before turning back.

6 People, 30 Minutes, £2,000 with Experience Days via Edmiston London Heliport

Another helicopter tour over the city that will absolutely need six of you to qualify for the flight - so it would help if all of you put in if that's possible.

A private helicopter that will take and your friends in an exclusive flight with no strangers; though as you're traveling over water, you'll need to wear life-jackets.

Once you've taken off, the helicopter will bare left as it follows the River Themes towards Central London as you cruise at 2000ft. at 120mph approximately.

So not only will you get to see all major landmarks, you'll get to see what else London has to offer away from the busy tourist hotspots.

During this exciting 30 minute tour; you'll head from Syon Park and Kew Gardens to Richmond; all the way to The Dome and the Thames Barrier in Greenwich - well seeing all the sights of London from the air.

1 Person, 20 Minutes, £350.00 with Red Letter Day via Edmiston London Heliport

Get an amazing perspective of the capital's landmarks for just you as you share a heli tour with like minded passengers - enjoying the sights well taking all the pictures you can.

All this will take place in a 30 minute helicopter tour of London with no major landmark missing out - as you'll see it from a far, or closer up below you.

The flight path will follow the River Themes before deviating away to fly away from Central London to Barnes in the west to Greenwich.

Early in the flight you'll see the approaching landmarks in Central London including: The London Eye and the Houses of Parliament, well a little farther on you'll see The Shard.

As you return to the heliport in Battersea; you'll see all the sights you missed from the north or south of the river, all while giving you an opportunity to take it in one more time.

1 Person, 10 Minutes, £200.00 with Experience Days via Edmiston London Heliport

As soon has you arrive at the Edmiston London Heliport, your helicopter experience will begin as you'll be greeted by staff before taking your safety briefing.

On schedule, you'll head out to the heliport to enter the helicopter where you'll be belted in along with your fellow passengers - this is a passenger sharing flight.

Then up and away you go at a steady cruising speed that should not exceed more than 120mph, well flying at an attitude of no more than 2000 feet for a 10 minute flight.

It won't feel vary fast nor will it seem very high as all major landmarks come into view on the left or right side of the helicopter as you approach them.

All while you will be looking over the city with all the activity going on below. With Hyde Park coming up to your left and perhaps Regents ParK in the distance.

Once over Central London, all attractions will be easy to pick out as they're recognized from the air - either by you or an enthusiastic passenger pointing away.

1 Person, 20 Minutes, £350.00 with Buy A Gift via Edmiston London Heliport

Take a bird's eye view of the countries capital from a relaxing flight above; and as you'll be one, you won't miss anything as you concentrate on the sights.

Once you're up in the air the flight will briefly follow the Themes as you approach Central London - well all landmarks will be visible from out of the right side of the helicopter.

As you manoeuvre all sight will be ahead of you; before getting ever closer as you pass over them one by one below you.

All sights won't be seen up close, but you won't miss most as the windows make for large viewing platforms, as to make sure you don't miss out.

Take this flight for one as you won't have to worry about anyone distracting you in flight.

Surrey Countryside and London Skyline Helicopter Tour for Two

2 People, 10 Minutes, £170.00 with Virgin Experience Days via Redhill Aerodrome

I recommend the best London helicopter flights out of Central London only; but I can't help but squeeze this unique helicopter tour out of Surrey - just outside of London.

If you're visiting London you will need to make your way to the heliport by yourself.

Though with the transport available in the area you shouldn't have trouble reaching your destination at Redhill Aerodrome.

Its because of the location I consider this helicopter tour to view the London skyline at a distance to be one of the best; as it takes in the beautiful English countryside.

As you lift off from Redhill you'll head north towards the capital; all while you'll see the green disappear as Central London's skyline should be within sight.

This it not a London helicopter tour so to speak, but its one that must be taken as you'll see what else is going on outside of the capital.

1 Person, 50 Minutes, £149.00 with Heli Air via White Waltham Airfield

Not a helicopter flight out of London but one that departs from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire to the west of the London.

And what a flight it is too; a tour for one that takes in much of Buckinghamshire before you cross over the M25 motorway well viewing all of London's western borough's.

You approach London from the south/west to avoid the busy Heathrow Airport; which should allow you to view airliners landing and taking off at a distance.

Then as you approach the restricted helicopter flight path corridor, you'll follow the River Themes into Central London - right at the heart of the capital.

Its just as well this is a 50 minute helicopter tour as it gives you lots of times to fly in to the capital and back again, covering 77 miles in total.

You won't miss all the major attractions on the ground but remember you'll also have the bonus of viewing what Buckinghamshire as to offer from the air.

2 People, 10 Minutes, £400.00 with Virgin Experience Days via Edmiston London Heliport

I love helicopter flights out of London as it makes it so much easier, so I must include this one where you'll take in Central London where you'll see all iconic spots on the ground.

Its not just the usual tourist destinations you'll see here; taking off from the London Heliport will mean you'll see Battersea Power Station and near by famous landmarks.

Then it time to spot all the tourist sports you've probably visited previously on the day well walking around London.

Only this time you'll see what the Houses Of Parliament, London Eye and the The Shard look like from 2000ft. up in the sky.

Buckingham Palace should be easy to see thanks to its large grounds; along with the enormous Hyde Park with all its greenery.

2 People, 45 Minutes, £565.00 with EBG Helicopters via Redhill Aerodrome

And finally, one of the best London helicopter tours must come with a glass of champagne with the option for any add-on's for that special someone.

As its a helicopter tour with champagne, this flight should be considered a romantic helicopter ride for two people, or at least a gift for someone special.

This helicopter tour will involve a ride out of Surrey via EBG Helicopters in a Robinson R44 helicopter, which help make the experience more affordable.

You'll depart Redhill Aerodrome where you'll approach London well taking in the countryside as well as outer towns.

Its then time to link up with the River Themes at Barnes before following the route up the river towards Central London.

All sights will be see as well has football grounds, museums or parks will be seen even before viewing the landmarks you'll be more familiar with.

In all, you'll see the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Royal Albert Hall and so many more before heading back via Isle of Dogs.

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• Helicopter Rides

Adventure 001 - The UK’s number one provider of Helicopter pleasure flights. Offering affordable tours nationwide, we operate at over 50 venues throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales Our team of professional and en....

Helicopter Rides (cont'd)

Adventure 001 - The UK’s number one provider of Helicopter pleasure flights. Offering affordable tours nationwide, we operate at over 50 venues throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Our team of professional and enthusiastic pilots and crew are expertly trained and fully qualified to ensure you have the most unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience with memories you will keep forever. 

Nothing compares to the sensation of soaring through the sky in one of our fleet of sleek Jet Powered Helicopters capturing historic sites, amazing scenery and hidden gems from a bird’s eye view. We offer a wide range of flight packages and durations, from a 6-mile helicopter buzz of the local area, through to a 30 minute extended sightseeing tour. All flights offer breath-taking, panoramic views of rural countryside, coastal areas, iconic landmarks or famous UK cities. 

Personalised gift vouchers are available for all experiences and to suit any budget. Treat your nearest and dearest to a unique day out and collect exciting memories. Vouchers can be sent digitally to an inbox of your choice or as a presentation pack that can be posted in time for the special occasion.

Fun Heli Facts!

Who Invented the helicopter?

The very first piloted helicopter was invented by French engineer Paul Cornu (1881–1944) in 1907. However, his design did not work, and French inventor Etienne Oehmichen (1884–1955) was more successful. He built and flew a helicopter one kilometre in 1924.

How many different types of helicopter are there?

There are a total of 155 types of helicopters. These include military and civilian rotary wing aircraft and related systems in the military factory. They can all range from a small two-person private helicopter through large passenger carrying types to work vehicles that carry significant loads to remote places.

What type of Helicopters do Adventure 001 use? 

The Bell 206 JetRanger. This model is one of the most famous helicopters in the world, primarily because of Hollywood. 

What is a nickname for a helicopter?

English nicknames for helicopter include "chopper", "copter", "helo", "heli", and "whirlybird".

How high will I fly on my helicopter ride?

You will fly at around 1 ,000 – 1,500feet

What speed will I fly on my helicopter ride?

You will fly at around 100 knots (115 mph)

What is the fastest speed a Helicopter can fly at?

The fastest recorded speed of a helicopter is roughly 248 miles per hour

What does the word ‘Helicopter’ mean?

Most people think that the word helicopter is broken up by syllables. However, it is actually made up of two parts that are “helico,” which means spiral, and “pter,” which means made with wings.

What can a Helicopter do that other aircraft can’t?

The Helicopter is the only aircraft that can move forward, backward, side-to-side and hover! It can also take off and land in tight spaces.

6 Mile Buzz Helicopter Flight

Nothing else comes close to the magic of vertical flight, from the moment you lift into the air climbing gracefully to over 1,000 feet and accelerating to over 100 mph, to the second the helicopter settles gracefully back on the ground it is a truly exciting and unforgettable experience.

• Approx 20 mins with 5 mins flying
• Can be taken at 53 UK & Eire Venues

12 Mile Themed Helicopter Flight

There is nothing quite like the sensation of hovering in a powerful, fast-moving helicopter - looking down at the ground just a few feet below.

• Approx 20 mins with 8 mins flying
• Can be taken at 54 UK & Eire Venues

UK Wide City Helicopter Tour

There is nothing quite like the experience of seeing a familiar place from above, looking down at historical landmarks some of which are hundreds of years old.

• Approx 30 mins with 12 mins flying
• Can be taken at 27 UK Venues

30 Min Themed Helicopter Sightseeing Tour

View some of the best landmarks, coastlines and countryside that the UK has to offer - VIP style from the comfort of one of our helicopters!

• Approx 60 mins with 30 mins flying
• Can be taken at 59 UK & Eire Venues

City of London Helicopter Tour

View London from 1000 feet above the Thames! Departing from *Any location, see all the major attractions that have made London one of the greatest cities in the world. Superb aerial views such as the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, The London Eye, Tower Bridge, as far as the O2 Arena - are all for you to see.

• Can be taken at 3 UK Venues

Blue Skies Helicopter Flight with FREE Bubbly

Enjoy the high life with this helicopter sightseeing flight followed by a glass of bubbly once back on the ground.

6 Mile Buzz Flight with Chocolates and Bubbly

2 people can enjoy a 6 mile helicopter pleasure flight over beautiful countryside before returning to earth for a glass of bubbly and chocolates!

Summer Discovery Day Package

If you are adventurous, love the great outdoors and enjoy exploring surroundings then this experience is perfect for you! Familiarise yourself with the local beauty-spots with an 8 mile E-guided circular hike around your chosen venue before boarding a VIP jet powered helicopter that will then fly you along the route you walked, granting a bird's eye view of the sights!

• Approx 4 hours with 5 mins flying
• Can be taken at 12 UK Venues

Extended Blue Skies Helicopter Flight with FREE Bubbly

• Approx 30 mins with 8 mins flying

18 Mile Adventure Helicopter Flight

• Approx 30 mins with 10 mins flying
• Can be taken at 51 UK Venues

St Ives Bay and Godrevy Lighthouse Helicopter Tour

Fly over the rugged Cornish coastline landscape around St Ives Bay - voted one of the most beautiful bays in the world on this spectacular tour.

• Approx 30 mins with 15 mins flying
• Can be taken at 4 UK Venues

Glimpse of London Helicopter Tour with Chocolates and Bubbly

Enjoy the amazing skyline of the City of London from the seat of a helicopter before returning for lunch in the airfield cafe.

• Approx 60 mins with 12 mins flying
• Can be taken at 1 UK Venue

Cornwall Land, Sea & Air Adventure Package

Enjoy half a day to include a boat trip around St Ives Bay, an 8 mile coastal hike and a VIP Jet Powered Helicopter flight that will fly you over the route you walked, granting a bird's eye view of the sights. Finish off the day by a well deserved Cornish Cream Tea! This is a great way to experience the stunning Cornish coastline from three incredible perspectives!

• Approx 6 hours with 8 mins flying

Dambusters Helicopter Tour with Cream Tea

Fly by helicopter along 617 Squadron’s training route down the Derwent Valley and over the twin dams. Enjoy fabulous views of beautiful countryside whilst reliving the history of the daring Dambusters raid over 60 years on…

• Approx 60 mins with 18 mins flying

Extended Dambusters Helicopter Tour

The flight will take you through the Peak District covering Chatsworth House, the Mam Tor rock formations and Lady Bower reservoir/Derwent Valley where the RAF trained for the Dam Buster flights during World War II.

25 Mile Adventure Helicopter Flight

There is nothing quite like the sensation of hovering in a powerful, fast-moving helicopter. See the sights of your chosen area with this 25 mile helicopter pleasure flight.

• Can be taken at 55 UK & Eire Venues

The Ultimate London Experience

• 30 mins flying
• Can be taken at 2 UK Venues

Glimpse of London Helicopter Tour with Bubbly

See the amazing skyline of the City of London from the seat of a helicopter, then enjoy a refreshing glass of bubbly once back on the ground.

All Stars Football Stadium Helicopter Tour

This experience is perfect for anyone that is football mad! Take to the sky to see your favourite football teams stadium from a completely different view than ever before!

• Can be taken at 11 UK Venues

20 Min Helicopter Pleasure Flight

• Approx 45 minutes with 18 mins flying
• Can be taken at 43 UK Venues

12 Mile Flight with Chocolates and Bubbly

Extended Lake District Helicopter Tour

From our departure site, set in acres of rolling countryside, we head west towards Newby Bridge at the base of Lake Windermere before turning north towards Bowness and Ambleside.

Extended Newcastle City & Angel of the North Tour

See the sights of Newcastle Upon Tyne from the seat of a helicopter, from the Tyne river, Metro Centre and Angel of the North to the Nissan car plant and Penshaw Monument.

Extended Oxford City & Dreaming Spires Tour

See over 40 Dreaming Spires of Oxford, Blenheim Palace (birth place of Sir Winston Churchill) and the spectacular Oxfordshire countryside from the air!

Extended Stonehenge & Salisbury Plains Tour

Enjoy the opportunity of seeing the amazing structure of Stonehenge and its intriguing formation from a unique perspective.

Extended Iron Bridge & Severn Valley Tour

Experience the Severn Valley from the air with stunning vistas across the Wyre Forest, Shropshire Plain and Thomas Telford's distinctive Iron Bridge as we fly around Coalbrookdale.

Extended Cornish Coastline & Lands End Tour

Follow the rugged Cornish coastline landscape between St Ives and Lands End on this spectacular helicopter tour.

Extended City of Edinburgh Helicopter Tour

This amazing helicopter flight will take you across several beautiful Edinburgh sights such as the City, Edinburgh Castle and Firth of Fourth bridge to give you an experience you will never forget!

Exclusive London by Helicopter Private Tour

Flying over the River Thames, your pilot will point out London's great landmarks - the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral, The London Eye, Tower Bridge and the O2 Arena.

Grand Tour of London by Helicopter

Take to the air in one of our Jet Powered Helicopters over the skies of London. This extended 50 minute tour departing from our private estate in Buckinghamshire is also a must for Bond fans as it offers views of Pinewood Studios, Stoke Park and the MI5 building in central London.

• Approx 60 mins with 50 mins flying

Emmerdale and York Sightseeing Flight

Take a thrilling helicopter ride above one of the most historic cities in England, taking in the beautiful scenery of Yorkshire and the village of Emmerdale in the Yorkshire Dales.

• Approx 75 mins with 45 mins flying

London Sightseeing Flight for 2 with Bubbly 45 Minutes

Our Helicopter Tour starts with a flight across the beautiful Surrey countryside. Soon you will be marvelling at the incredible expanse of London from 1000ft above the Thames!

• 45 mins flying

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• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

Jimmy Carter’s Colombia Blacklist Revealed

First Lady Rosalynn Carter meets with President Alfonso López Michelsen of Colombia, June 10, 1977. Mrs. Carter was the first in a series of presidential emissaries to deliver a tough message to López on drug corruption in the Colombian government. (U.S. National Archives)

National Security Archive Publishes “Ultra Secret” 1977 Narco Dossier for First Time

“Unprecedented” Intelligence Briefing for Colombian President Detailed Corruption Among Top Officials

Carter to Staff: “Do not send helicopters - Give me CIA info”

Washington, D.C., April 15, 2024 – A highly sensitive blacklist of allegedly corrupt Colombian officials assembled by the U.S. government and presented to Colombian President Alfonso López Michelsen in July 1977 as a way of gaining leverage over Colombian drug policy is the focus of a new Electronic Briefing Book published today by the National Security Archive. Located among records from the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, the full text of the secret intelligence dossier, including the names of some three dozen officials believed to have ties to the drug trade, is published here today for the first time.

James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, who will be one hundred years old in October, is known around the world as the president who negotiated peace between Egypt and Israel, reached a major arms control agreement with the Soviet Union, signed the Panama Canal treaty, faced daunting foreign policy challenges in Iran and Afghanistan, and who has engaged in numerous acts of charity and goodwill in the 43 years since he left office. Less well known is President Carter’s personal involvement—and that of his wife, First Lady Rosalynn Carter—in for the first time focusing U.S. policy toward Colombia on narcotrafficking and its corrupting influence among government officials, an issue that would come to define the relationship.

The episode culminated in Carter’s authorization of what the CIA called an “unprecedented” briefing for President López in which he was presented with a dossier of U.S. intelligence and law enforcement information that linked “ministerial and judicial officials, military and law enforcement personnel, and other high-level figures” to the drug trade.

Key officials named in the document include the defense minister, Gen. Abraham Varón Valencia, the minister of labor, Óscar Montoya Montoya, and Col. Humberto Cardona Orozco, then the head of INDUMIL, a military weapons manufacturer run by the Colombian government (See Document 29 ). The most serious allegations—those against Varón, Montoya and presidential candidate Julio César Turbay, who became president later that year—were revealed in an April 1978 broadcast of the CBS television show 60 Minutes , which had obtained a copy of a June 1977 White House memo sent to President Carter by Peter Bourne, his chief narcotics adviser. Bourne had urged Carter to hold up the sale of three military helicopters to Colombia and attached a one-page summary of Colombian officials believed to be involved in cocaine trafficking, which was the focus of the 60 Minutes report. (See Document 11 ).

While a number of key documents from the episode have been declassified previously, including in the State Department’s 2018 Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) volume , today’s posting features several top-level documents from the Carter White House that have never before been published, including frank policy recommendations from key advisers. Some of the memos bear President Carter’s own handwritten annotations advocating for tougher drug policies and a more confrontational approach on corruption. These include the extraordinary decision to assemble and deliver an intelligence briefing to the Colombian president. [1]

Some of these records were part of the Remote Archives Capture (RAC) program at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. The RAC was a security review activity dating back to 1995 during which the CIA, National Archives, and other U.S. agencies scanned hundreds of thousands of records from Presidential Libraries for sensitive material and, in many cases, provided declassified copies. The Carter RAC files were later obtained in bulk by the National Security Archive when the Carter Library made a large tranche available in digital form.

More than 2,500 additional high-level memos from the Carter White House, mined from the RAC collection, are now available in U.S. Foreign Policy in the Carter Years, 1977-1981: Highest-Level Memos to the President , the most recent collection added to the Digital National Security Archive series from ProQuest, part of Clarivate.

Highlights from today’s posting include:

• The full text of the long-secret intelligence dossier delivered to President López by three top U.S. officials on July 21, 1977. ( Document 29 )
• President Carter’s handwritten annotation on White House drug adviser Bourne’s memo recommending linking the delivery of promised military helicopters to corruption: “Do not send helicopters - Give me CIA info.” ( Document 13 )
• White House drug adviser Peter Bourne’s briefing memo for Rosalynn Carter’s meeting with the Colombian president, including a one-page summary of “Colombian Officials Allegedly Profiting from Cocaine Traffic” that months later would be leaked to members of the international news media. ( Document 11 )
• A State Department memo citing the “possible narcotrafficking activities” of Alfonso López Caballero, the son of President López, who went on to have a long career as a diplomat and policymaker and to hold top positions in a number of Colombian presidential administrations, serving most recently as ambassador to Russia from 2016-2022. ( Document 35 )
• A memo from NSC Latin America specialist Robert Pastor indicating that “the President was so much stronger” than his staff on the Colombian corruption issue and was the person who most wanted to include the names of corrupt Colombian government Cabinet officials in his letter to López. Carter himself said “that it was curious that he should be bolder than his advisors,” according to Pastor. ( Document 25 )
• U.S. Embassy speculation that Defense Minister Varón “may decide to be especially helpful and cooperative in [narcotics] matters in order to help disprove the allegations against him” in the narco dossier. ( Document 37 )
• Chargé d’affaires Robert Drexler’s cable complaining that the López government had done the “bare, protocolary minimum in hosting Mrs. Carter’s visit” in June 1977, treating it as a “ladies-only social event.” ( Document 10 )

U.S. concern about high-level drug corruption in Colombia emerged early in the Carter administration, and a key moment occurred in late April 1977 when the President was apprised of intelligence on the rapidly increasing pace of Colombian cocaine smuggling. Carter’s response, according to National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski’s April 27 memo to Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, was that the U.S. “should raise this officially and strongly with the Colombian Government.” ( Document 4 )

President Carter’s reaction set off a chain of events that after several months of preparations resulted in what the CIA said was an “unprecedented” high-level intelligence briefing in which the U.S. confronted the Colombian president, Alfonso López Michelsen, with information linking top Colombian officials—including two of his cabinet members, a leading presidential candidate, and ranking members of the security forces—to drug trafficking. ( Document 29 )

Revealed here for the first time, the long-hidden memo is a summary of information acquired by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement sources on narcotics corruption in the Colombian government and seems to address the Colombian president personally. [2] López is told that narcotics traffickers and their operations “are greatly facilitated by the cooperation and protection of influential Colombian officials” and that “further investigation by your Government would most valuable,” especially in cases of “high-level figures.”

The document lists some three dozen Colombian officials thought to have links to the illegal narcotics business, including prominent figures from political, judicial, law enforcement and military circles. The most well known person on the list, Julio César Turbay, who would go on to win the next election and serve as president from 1978-1982, is linked to narcotrafficking through his nephew, Anibal Turbay Bernal, who the report says is linked to narcotics traffickers who believed they would “be able to choose the heads of the Colombian law enforcement agencies should Julio Cesar Turbay become president.”

Top Colombian officials named in the report include two members of López’s cabinet: the Colombian defense minister, Gen. Abraham Varón Valencia, who the report says had “received narcotics and contraband payoffs,” and the minister of labor, Óscar Montoya Montoya, who is said to “have discussed illicit traffic in cocaine and coffee” with a known narcotics trafficker. Another key military official singled out in the report is Col. Humberto Cardona Orozco, then the head of INDUMIL, a military weapons manufacturer run by the Colombian government, a position that “lent itself to narcotics-related corruption,” according to the intelligence briefing. The former police intelligence chief in Cali, Capt. Harold Lozano Jaramillo, is said to be “operating a [cocaine] laboratory in his residence in Cali,” among other charges. The briefing also says that the former chief of the National Police, Gen. Henry García Bohórquez, used “his influence to facilitate the activities of several important Colombian narcotics traffickers.”

While some of the information in the dossier is derived from DEA investigations, other information would have come by way of the CIA, explaining why one of the Agency’s top officials for Latin America, Lawrence "Larry" Laser, participated in the López briefing. In a later interview, Robert Drexler, the Chargé d’affaires who led the U.S. Embassy during much of this period, described an early CIA counternarcotics operation that relied on “a very small number of trusted Colombian law enforcement officials” who the U.S. “could monitor closely” and through which the U.S. “collected intelligence on the contacts between the drug traffickers and high-level Colombian officials.” The intelligence was “horrifying,” Drexler recalled in an oral history interview with the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, “because it detailed the rapid spread of corruption.”

Whatever its exact origin, the alarming intelligence that sparked Carter’s heightened interest in Colombian corruption arrived at a transitional time for the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, amid what Drexler describes as a chaotic Embassy environment and growing diplomatic tensions over the naming of a new U.S. ambassador.

The previous ambassador, Philip Sanchez, who was appointed by President Gerald Ford, left the post on April 5, leaving Drexler in charge of the embassy. Sanchez, a Republican political appointee, was “a disaster” who “did virtually nothing,” according to Drexler. “[W]hile we could not get our act together, the Medellin Cartel did get its own act together.” The budding narcotics syndicate had begun to acquire “sophisticated equipment, planes, telecommunications, money, organization, and made better use of Colombian officials for their purposes than we could for ours,” Drexler recalled of his time working under Sanchez. On top of that, Sanchez had simply assumed that Carter, as the new president, “would keep him on because he was a Latin.” Drexler said that Sanchez “finally had to be ordered out of Bogota” by the State Department. Meanwhile, narcotraffickers grew in strength, numbers, and capabilities. “[A]s we got into 1977, they were well advanced in the cartelization of the supply side, and we were way behind in even recognizing, to say nothing of meeting[,] the problem.”

Carter’s first replacement for Sanchez, José A. Cabranes, a political appointee with personal ties to Secretary of State Vance, was “another slap in the face” to López, who for months refused to issue him credentials, and by the time he finally did so, Cabranes had withdrawn himself from consideration. It was thus left to Drexler, as Chargé d’affaires, to run the U.S. Embassy, as he put it, “for about 10 months in 1977” during “a formative period for the drug cartels.” As the ranking official, Drexler was a participant, notetaker and eyewitness as the Carter administration’s emissaries attempted to gain Colombia’s cooperation in narcotics enforcement by pressuring the Colombian president to clean house. [3]

Carter’s hands-on approach to López during this tumultuous time combined an apparent gesture of goodwill—Carter was sharing highly sensitive information from U.S. narcotics investigations with the Colombian president—with an intimidating show of strength—the U.S. was building law enforcement dossiers on corrupt officials in the López government. The Carter administration made clear that U.S. cooperation on other issues important to Colombia—the delivery of promised military helicopters; a favorable U.S. decision over disputed Caribbean islands—was contingent on the U.S. receiving assurances from López that Colombia was serious about taking on drugs.

Just as unprecedented as the presidential intelligence briefing was the role of First Lady Rosalynn Carter in setting the stage for the President’s confrontational approach to drug corruption in Colombia. The idea of employing Mrs. Carter to deliver a “substantive” message to López during her seven-country tour of Latin America in June 1977 seemed to surprise the Colombians during preparations for her visit, irking Drexler, who, in a cable to Washington, accused the López government of doing the “bare, protocolary minimum” for the First Lady’s planned stop in Bogotá and for treating her visit it as a “ladies-only social event.” ( Document 10 )

In fact, Mrs. Carter’s talks with López covered a wide range of policy issues, including nuclear nonproliferation, the Panama Canal treaty negotiations, U.S. relations with Cuba, and a new U.S. approach to foreign relations, emphasized by President Carter, that for the first time made human rights a factor in national security policymaking. ( Document 15 )

But her most important message to the Colombian president was about the alarmingly widespread nature of drug-related corruption at senior levels of the Colombian government and the need for López to act if he wanted to improve U.S.-Colombia counternarcotics cooperation. Mrs. Carter encouraged López to meet the following month with the head of the White House drug control office, Peter Bourne, and Mathea Falco, the State Department’s senior narcotics official, to discuss the matter further. It’s not clear from the available U.S. records whether Mrs. Carter mentioned—as López later claimed—that the U.S. emissaries would deliver him a dossier on narcotics corruption. The available evidence suggests not. [4] In any case, it is clear that corruption was a central focus of her meeting with the Colombian president, and that she told López to expect a more detailed briefing from the President’s emissaries soon.

Coming in the first few months of the Carter administration, the First Lady’s visit set the stage for a transformative period in U.S.-Colombia relations, as the new U.S. focus on human rights coincided with increasing U.S. pressure for Colombia to crack down on drug trafficking and narcotics-related corruption. But while Colombia’s human rights record at the time looked pretty good compared to some other countries, reports of widespread narcotics-related corruption in Bogotá made it necessary, in Carter’s view, to extract certain commitments from the Colombian president before the security relationship could resume.

At the time, the focus for Colombia was on three military helicopters promised by President Ford but held up by Carter as his administration reviewed the appropriateness of U.S. security commitments around the world. Narcotics had not been an important issue in U.S.-Colombia relations during the Ford administration, though the two countries did reach an initial agreement for the U.S. to provide the helicopters with the expectation that they would help Colombia find and destroy narcotics-related sites.

In a September 1975 meeting with Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, it was President López who brought up the subject of narcotics, lamenting how The New York Times had “blamed us” for the narcotics problem, while admitting that, “because of our situation, we are the center of traffic.” He said that Colombia was a “small country” that had been “invaded by people with and without passports, by planes, boats, etc.” and that were “heavily financed from within the U.S.” Throughout that year, the Times had published a four-part series on the international drug trade with Colombia as a primary focal point. [5]

“We don’t have the materials to fight back,” López said, leading Ford to ask, “How can we help?” The Colombian president did not hesitate: “We could use technology and economic help. We could use helicopters to find where the planes land. We catch them all the time.” Previous anti-narcotics aid had been too little, López said, noting that $900,000 from the U.S. was nothing compared to millions of dollars in bribes handed out by the traffickers. “The drug operators are worldwide,” said López. “You can’t deal with the problem by just dealing with it in the U.S.” ( Document 1 ) The next day, Ford told López that there would be $1.3 million in narcotics aid to Colombia in 1976, which he called “a huge increase,” and that his administration would also “look into the purchase of helicopters if necessary.” ( Document 2 )

Records from the first months of the Carter administration reveal that Carter took an active role in the initial decision to hold up delivery of the helicopters until they were confident that the Colombian government would crack down on corruption. Documents found in the RAC collection indicate that the issue came to a head during the first week of June and that Bourne, in particular, helped push the President to strike a more confrontational posture. Bourne’s June 2 memo to the President on “Cocaine trafficking in Colombia” provided talking points on the matter for the First Lady’s upcoming meeting with President López and pleaded with Carter to use the helicopter issue, “one of the only points of leverage we have,” lamenting that, “Some people at the State Department are willing to just give them the helicopters to avoid conflict.” Attached to Bourne’s memo was a one-page summary of “Colombian Officials Allegedly Profiting from Cocaine Traffic.” In the margins Bourne’s memo, Carter wrote: “Do not send helicopters - Give me CIA info.” ( Document 13 ) Around the same time, on June 3, the President asked the CIA director “if the Columbians [sic] were using the helicopters we gave them to run drugs,” according to a June 10, 1977, memo from Sayre Stevens, the Deputy Director for Intelligence at the CIA. [6] ( Document 16 )

The First Lady thus arrived in Colombia just as the Carter administration’s new tougher approach to Colombia, including a halt in the delivery of promised security assistance, was taking shape, and her trip was seen as a moment to begin a frank dialogue about corruption. In a reporting cable, the U.S. Embassy under Robert Drexler complemented Mrs. Carter’s diplomatic skills, saying that the First Lady “was especially effective in the manner in which she raised with Lopez and [Foreign Minister Indalecio] Lievano, firmly and forcefully, the [U.S. government’s] concern over corruption in the [Colombian government] … while not offending the thin-skinned Lopez’s sensibilities, which could well have caused a curtailment in [the Colombian government’s] cooperation in narcotics interdiction.” Drexler’s comment no doubt reflected his concern, expressed in an oral history, that taking too hard a line with the Colombian government on corruption could have derailed the entire U.S. counternarcotics effort there. ( Document 17 )

Several other documents from the RAC program published here for the first time show that the President continued to be personally involved in Colombia policy decision-making as the Intelligence Community prepared to brief López about narco-corruption in the Colombian government. Peter Bourne’s memo to Carter ahead of a June 20 Cabinet meeting on Colombia said that the group—consisting of officials from the White House Office of Drug Abuse Policy (ODAP), DEA, NSC, CIA and the Department of Justice—should consider what kinds of pressures the U.S. could apply toward Colombia and what “guarantees” the U.S. should “extract from the President of Colombia before releasing helicopters and other support.” Bourne noted that “Colombia has been a particular problem” with respect to “the lack of government effort in controlling narcotics and widespread corruption.” ( Document 18 )

One meeting participant, William Luers, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs (ARA), wrote in a memo that “the discussion centered around corruption: which ministers and high officials are involved and how much does Lopez Michelsen know himself.” Luers’ notes indicate agreement that Carter would send a “not timid” letter to López saying that “the President has knowledge of high level corruption” and warning that “the good name of Colombia” could be “damaged.” The letter, which would be hand-delivered to López during the upcoming visit of Bourne and Falco, would propose “the establishment of a high level joint commission to develop maximum cooperation and exchange intelligence information on trafficking and corruption.” ( Document 20 )

Later that day in his “Evening Report,” NSC Latin America adviser Robert Pastor noted how it had been Carter, at the June 20 Cabinet meeting, who had “asked us [Pastor and Falco] to revise the letter which Peter Bourne will deliver to President Lopez Michelsen on Wednesday.” The President wanted the letter and his emissaries “to make clear to Lopez that the President is aware of the degree of corruption in the Colombian Government and feels that further cooperation between our two governments will depend on whether President Lopez addresses this issue effectively.” According to Pastor, it was Carter who had wanted to name the Colombian defense minister. “[T]he President was so much stronger on this issue than the rest of us,” Pastor wrote in a June 27 memo, “that Mathea [Falco] and I thought we should include it.” According to Pastor, Carter himself thought “that it was curious that he should be bolder than his advisors.” ( Document 19 )

But Brzezinski was concerned that the letter drafted by Pastor and Falco and desired by Carter was too inflammatory, noting, in a June 21 memo to the President, that it made “a very serious accusation … but without any convincing proof.” The National Security Advisor shared his “strong reservations about the desirability of pointing so directly at a minister in President Lopez’s Cabinet,” recommending instead that Carter “state the proposition that we have cause to believe that ‘a number of high officials in the Colombian Government may be benefitting from the drug traffic, and go on to indicate that we are in a position to provide such information.” Brzezinski suggested that Bourne “could then point the finger more directly, and hopefully with greater effect.” ( Document 21 )

Dated June 21, the letter signed by Carter and later delivered to the Colombian president did not mention any Colombian officials by name, instead referring to “information which has come to my attention indicating that a number of high officials in the Colombian Government, and several important political figures, may be benefitting directly or indirectly from the illicit drug traffic” and offering him “a complete briefing” on the matter.

During their subsequent trip to Colombia, presidential envoys Bourne and Falco delivered the toned-down version of Carter’s letter to López (which he “immediately opened and read”) and told him that “President Carter has a list” of high-level Colombian officials involved in trafficking and “would be happy to arrange a private briefing” for López by “representatives of the Intelligence Community in Washington.” ( Document 22 )

Accepting the offer, the Colombian president, who was well aware of the Carter administration’s new emphasis on international human rights, seemed to draw a distinction between Colombia and the military dictatorships in Chile and Argentina that were increasingly at odds with the Carter administration over its new emphasis on morality and justice in foreign policymaking. López explained that “if Colombia were a military dictatorship, action could be faster, but Colombia cannot move as easily as a country where there is no rule of law.” Interestingly, in his report to President Carter on the meeting, Bourne observed that the Colombian president “made no move to demand large amounts of money, as we thought he might” but it is not clear what sort of request they were expecting from López.

In any case, the Carter administration was pleased enough with the the outcome of the Bourne/Falco visit to approve delivery of the long-pending U.S. helicopters and several other items that had been held up while Carter sought the Colombian president’s assurances on narcotics corruption. [7] Some of these appear to be related to intelligence, including discussions of a “regional communications project” that got underway shortly after the Bourne/Falco visit, and the idea to include in the briefing for López additional intelligence on opium cultivations. The latter, according to Drexler, was “in the spirit of Bourne/Falco offers of intelligence sharing, would enlist necessary support at highest level for effective enforcement action,” and would prepare the way “for necessary political and bureaucratic decisions for cooperative development of further intelligence and for eradication efforts.” (Documents 24 , 26 and 27 )

The intelligence briefing was given to López on July 21 in Bogotá by Bourne, Bensinger, and Lawrence “Larry” Laser of the CIA. Bensinger told the Colombian president “there is no question that traffickers are helped and protected by some influential GOC officials,” adding that the U.S. government “wanted to share with President Lopez information which we had developed on such corruption, knowing that his sincere interest in attacking [the] narcotics problem will lead him to make further investigations of his own into these matters.” Bensinger then handed the Colombian president “information on about thirty cases which exemplified narcotics-related corruption involving ministerial and judicial officials, military and law enforcement personnel and high-level figures,” according to the Embassy’s cable on the meeting. (Documents 29 and 31 )

Bourne’s memo to Carter on the López briefing said the Colombian president “did not flinch at any of the information” they gave him but that he pushed back on allegations against the defense minister, Gen. Abraham Varón Valencia, who, as Bourne noted, “was the one person on the list he could not move against directly.” Regarding the “F-2” police intelligence directorate, the subject of various corruption allegations in the briefing, López called it “a nest of criminals” and promised “to move aggressively against these people.” Bourne characterized López as “a tired embattled old man depressed by his failure to accomplish more than 20 per cent of his administrations [sic] original program, who is not particularly popular with the people, and who was badly stung by accusations that his sons were involved in illicit financial transactions.” [8] López “had planned to drift through his remaining year in office,” according to Bourne, who credited Carter with reenergizing the Colombian president. “[T]he interest you and Rosalynn have taken in him has lighted a fire under him and given him the energy, clear goals and inspiration to try to redeem himself in the time he has left,” he said, adding, “We have also placed in his hands some powerful weapons.” ( Document 32 )

The news media and U.S. lawmakers continued to spotlight Colombia’s growing role in the international drug trade throughout 1977, and early the next year, first Le Monde and later 60 Minutes published stories in which they revealed the identities of several people named in the list that had been given to López, including presidential candidate Turbay and defense minister Varón. The leak prompted an exchange of letters between the U.S. Embassy and the two officials and considerable embarrassment for all involved. 60 MInutes correspondent Harry Moses said the episode “may turn out to be the Carter administration's biggest diplomatic blunder in Latin America,” and at least some of Turbay’s supporters thought the revelations may have actually boosted their candidate’s chances in the upcoming election. By then, the U.S., with a new ambassador finally in place, had eased the pressure on Colombia, hoping to start fresh with Turbay, whose victory, by that point, seemed certain. (Documents 37-42)

For his part, Drexler said he had come to regret being among those who had tried to tone down the Carter administration’s tougher approach to Colombia and corruption, fearing that a confrontation on the issue would jeopardize what progress they had made in focusing Colombia on the narcotics problem. Referring to Rosalynn Carter’s visit, Drexler said he had “pleaded with her to not follow her husband’s instructions “to take a very hard line with Colombia” and felt that, in the end, he had successfully persuaded the First Lady to downplay the issue: “She met with the President, she touched on the subject of corruption lightly, and went on with confirming that the helicopters would come, as they did.”

“Later I regretted this,” Drexler continued, “and I think I made a mistake, that they were right all along in Washington, that they should have drawn the line then, that it would have been better to have a confrontation with Lopez at that point.” After receiving the helicopters, Drexler said he “was immediately invited on a joy ride with the Colombian Military high command, who it was clear to me thought that they were getting some marvelous new toys, and that they were likely going to divert these helicopters to their own pursuits, rather than have them used for drug interdiction.”

The Documents

Gerald Ford Library

President Gerald Ford begins his 1975 Oval Office meeting with President Alfonso López Michelsen of Colombia by noting that, “We have already agreed that we have no problems.” President López agrees that the two countries “have no problem at all.” Almost before they are seated, the two leaders have neatly captured the state of U.S.-Colombia relations in the mid-1970s. For years the U.S. had poured money into Colombia, much of which was managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) mission, which, in addition to development projects, ran a wide-ranging “public safety” program that reorganized and revamped Colombian police and intelligence forces. “[W]ith your AID we have decided that we don’t need your help any more [sic],” López says. “You can use the funds for needy countries.” Ford replies, “We readily appreciate your cooperation,” citing “experiences where countries having no obvious need keep on asking” for aid.

After a brief discussion, it is López who raises the issue of narcotics in Colombia, which had been the subject of several articles that year in The New York Times , with reports of widespread corruption damaging Colombia’s reputation as a democratic haven in Latin America. “It is a worldwide problem,” he says, “but because of our situation, we are the center of traffic.” Colombia is a “small country,” López says, that had been “invaded by people with and without passports, by planes, boats, etc., heavily financed from within the U.S. We don’t have the materials to fight back.” Ford asks: “How can we help?” López asks for “technology and economic help.” Helicopters would be especially useful, he says, to “find where the planes land.”

When Kissinger says the U.S. had given them “$900,000 for that,” López compares that to some $250 million in bribes that the narcotraffickers had handed out: “It is too little.” Kissinger says that he had asked Brent Scowcroft “to look into the possibility of helicopters.” Ford asks: “Are helicopters the best way?” López replies: “Yes, to locate airfields and boats.”

On September 26, Ford and Kissinger meet with Colombian President López in the Oval Office for the second time in two days. Returning to a topic from the previous meeting, Ford says he “had a check made on the narcotics,” telling López they would appropriate $1.3 million for the coming year, which he says “is a huge increase” that “gives us an opportunity to charter boats and aircraft.” The President adds that his administration would “look into the purchase of helicopters if necessary.”

CIA CREST database

A CIA memo encloses notes and 8x10 slides for use in briefing Rosalynn Carter on the mission and functions of the CIA and the broader U.S. Intelligence Community, reflecting the First Lady’s keen interest in foreign affairs. The fascinating briefing notes show the extent to which the Agency tried to reassure Mrs. Carter about its mission and operations in the wake of major disclosures about CIA involvement in assassination plots and other illegal acts.

Jimmy Carter Library through the Remote Access Capture (RAC) program

Brzezinski informs Vance that President Carter had “noted a recent intelligence item” about Colombian cocaine exports, adding that, “the President stated that we should raise this officially and strongly with the Colombian Government.” Carter also wanted the head of the White House Office on Drug Abuse Policy, Peter Bourne, who is copied on Brzezinski’s memo, involved in the issue.

Director of Central Intelligence Adm. Stansfield Turner, the head of the CIA, tells his deputy to “stay in touch with” First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s staff “so we can provide her adequate support” during her trip to Central and South America.

The Deputy Secretary of State tells President Carter that the State Department is “taking action on the disturbing reports that official corruption in Colombia is contributing to traffic in cocaine.” Christopher describes a series of steps, beginning with an approach by Terence Todman, the new Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, on May 9. Todman’s meeting would be followed by the visit of Vance’s narcotics adviser, Mathea Falco, after which the Embassy would propose “specific actions [Colombian President] Lopez can take to deal with the problem.” Until then, the Department would “hold up delivery of three helicopters scheduled for shipment to Colombia under our narcotics program.” In the margin, Carter’s handwritten annotation reads: “ok”.

An undated three-page memo, apparently produced by the DEA in the first few months of 1977, reports awareness of “several levels of corruption in Colombia fed by tradition, socioeconomic pressures and the availability of large amounts of cash.” Corruption is found among “high level” political officials, “all agencies of law enforcement at all levels,” and in the judicial system. Most of the political allegations “converge on one figure in particular,” Julio César Turbay, a leading Liberal Party figure who would be elected president in 1978. Although this document includes significantly fewer names than the July 15, 1977, blacklist, several members of the security forces, including Capt. Harold Lozano Jaramillo, the police intelligence chief in Cali, customs agents, members of the DAS intelligence group, Colombian naval officers, judicial officials, and others.

U.S. National Archives - Access to Archival Databases

“A decision has been made to hold up, at least temporarily, delivery of the helicopters pending demarche on the high level corruption issue,” according to this cable from the State Department to the U.S. Embassy in Colombia. The issue is to be discussed during the upcoming visit to Colombia of State Department narcotics official Mathea Falco.

Jimmy Carter Library

In his “Monthly Narcotic Report” to President Carter, Bourne says that his office is “devoting considerable time and effort to formulating an appropriate strategy for dealing with Colombian cocaine traffic and the pervasive government corruption,” adding that he would like to “discuss this issue with Rosalynn before she leaves” on her trip to Latin America.

Document 10

Regarding difficulties it has had in making arrangements for Rosalynn Carter to meet with Colombian President López, the Embassy says that, “frankly, we were not prepared for Lopez’ decision to do no more that [sic] bare, protocolary minimum in hosting Mrs. Carter’s visit. Moreover, the ladies-only social event, like [the] decision to have Mrs. Lopez go to the airport, apparently reflects president’s idea that this visit is to be treated outwardly at least as a wives’ affair, despite our emphasis on its substantive purpose.”

On the corruption issue, Drexler says that, “Added care … should be taken in handling the narcotics/corruption issue, if it has to be raised. And I think it would be better not to raise it now.”

Document 11

Attached to White House drug policy director Peter Bourne’s memo about priorities for Rosalynn Carter’s visit to Colombia is a highly redacted copy of a document titled “Colombian Officials Allegedly Profiting from Cocaine Trade.” Unredacted names on the list include the leading presidential candidate at the time, Julio César Turbáy (“cocaine traffic involvement”); the National Police commander in Magdalena Department (“Colonel Salazar”), who is said to own a marijuana plantation; and Capt. Harold Lozano Jaramillo, the commander of National Police forces in Cali, who is said to run a cocaine lab.

Following up on the matter discussed in his May 14 “Monthly Narcotic Report #3,” Bourne lists four things that First Lady Rosalynn Carter should stress in her upcoming meeting with President López: 1) that the President and the First Lady were “seriously concerned about drug abuse,” 2) that Colombia has a serious problem with narcotics-related corruption, 3) that the U.S. wanted “a closer collaborative relationship” with Colombia, including high-level discussions; and 4) that helicopters promised to Colombia would not be delivered until Colombia makes a credible commitment to attacking the drug trade. Bourne writes that, “Even with commitment I doubt drug crop substitution programs will work because cocaine will grow easily almost anywhere in these countries.”

Document 12

Noting the continuing delay in delivery of three helicopters promised to Colombia by the previous administration, Vance reminds the President that the holdup “was occasioned by recent intelligence reports indicating that Colombian government officials are extensively involved in cocaine trafficking and that corruption is proving a serious obstacle in the narcotics interdiction effort in that country.” Vance recommends, and Carter agrees (see his handwritten annotation), “to withhold deliver of the helicopters” pending the outcome of an upcoming visit by White House drug chief Peter Bourne and State Department narcotics adviser Mathea Falco.

Document 13

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library

Attached to this memo is President Carter’s annotated reaction to Bourne’s June 2 memo recommending that Carter link the delivery of promised military helicopters to “highly specific commitments” by President López, “including vigorous moves against those in government who are known to be involved in the trafficking.” In the margins of Bourne’s memo, Carter has written:

To: Cy [Vance] Stan [Turner] Do not send helicopters - Give me CIA info. J.C.

Document 14

The State Department acknowledges “the President’s reaction to Dr. Peter Bourne’s memorandum and his decision not to deliver the helicopters promised Colombia under our international narcotics program.” Secretary Vance has “reconfirmed the decision he made on May 3 to withhold delivery pending the outcome of a visit to Colombia by Dr. Bourne and Ms. Mathea Falco” in June.

Document 15

U.S. National Archives - Access to Archival Databases; another copy of this cable was released in Foreign Relations of the United States , 1977-1980, Volume XXIV, South America (2018), Document 240.

The First Lady’s talks with Colombian President López cover a wide range of policy issues, including nuclear nonproliferation, Panama Canal treaty negotiations, U.S. relations with Cuba, and the new U.S. approach to foreign relations that emphasized respect for human rights. López told Carter that the U.S. should not “act as a ‘protector’ of human rights” in Latin America, since this was something under the purview of the OAS and UN. Speaking of efforts by Southern Cone military governments “to form a bloc countering US efforts on behalf of human rights,” López assured Carter that “Colombia had not been welcome as a participant.”

Regarding narcotics, López told the First Lady “that there were few things that had disappointed him as much as his experience with the [U.S. government] with regard to narcotics control. He said the question was whether Colombia was corrupting the US or vice versa,” and complained that the U.S. had delayed for three years the delivery of three helicopters promised by President Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Carter told López that “it was impossible to confine responsibility in such a matter to one country” and “went on to observe that the narcotics trafficking had had a corrupting influence on the [Colombian government].” The Colombian president and his foreign minister, Indalecio Liévano, “entirely agreed with Mrs. Carter,” but said that Colombia “does not have the resources to fight back against the traffickers and that the promises [U.S. government] help had never come.” Carter again emphasized “that corruption was limiting the effectiveness of Colombian enforcement action” and encouraged López to meet and discuss the matter with Peter Bourne, head of the White House Office on Drug Abuse Policy, and Mathea Falco, the State Department’s top narcotics official, during their upcoming visit to Colombia.

Document 16

In response to a query, the Deputy Director for Intelligence, Sayre Stevens, reports to the Director of Central Intelligence that the CIA had “no intelligence information suggesting that Colombian helicopters are, or ever have been, involved in narcotics smuggling” and that “US AID Mission advisors” had found “no evidence of any misuse by Colombia of AID funds and commodities.”

Document 17

U.S. U.S. National Archives - Access to Archival Databases

First Lady Rosalynn Carter raised “a number of substantive issues of high priority to the US” in her meeting with Colombian President López, according to this cable from the U.S. Embassy. Although the Colombians had initially “tended to downgrade the importance of the visit,” this “tendency was gradually overcome as reports arrive of Mrs. Carter’s high-level reception at previous stops” on her tour of Latina America. “Mrs. Carter bore down most heavily on the [U.S. government’s] concern over drug abuse in the US, its corrupting influence in the [Colombian government], and in particular, that corruption’s impact on the effectiveness of the [Colombian government’s] enforcement program.” Agreeing with the First Lady, López said that Colombia needed “more and better equipment” that had been promised but never delivered by the previous U.S. administration and which was now being held up by Carter.

“She was especially effective in the manner in which she raised with Lopez and Lievano, firmly and forcefully, the [U.S. government’s] concern over corruption in the [Colombian government] with regard to Colombian narcotics enforcement action, while not offending the thin-skinned Lopez’s sensibilities, which could well have caused a curtailment in [Colombian government’s] cooperation in narcotics interdiction with USG agencies.”

Document 18

This briefing memo for President Carter comes ahead of a Cabinet meeting on “the narcotics environment in Colombia” and “ways to improve” Colombian counternarcotics efforts. Noting that “Colombia has been a particular problem” in term of “the lack of government effort in controlling narcotics and widespread corruption,” Bourne suggests the group consider what kinds of pressures the U.S. could apply toward Colombia and determine what “guarantees” the U.S. should “extract from the President of Colombia before releasing helicopters and other support.”

Interestingly, Bourne mentions how U.S. “efforts in Colombia have been hampered by an ongoing conflict between CIA and DEA over the collection of intelligence data”—a conflict that would not soon be resolved.

Document 19

Pastor writes: “The President asked us [Pastor and Falco] to revise the letter which Peter Bourne will deliver to President Lopez Michelsen on Wednesday, to make clear to Lopez that the President is aware of the degree of corruption in the Colombian Government and feels that further cooperation between our two governments will depend on whether President Lopez addresses this issue effectively.”

Document 20

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State William Luers provides a summary of a White House meeting focused on narcotics-related corruption in Colombia and the U.S. approach to Colombian President López. “Much of the discussion centered around corruption: which ministers and high officials are involved and how much does Lopez Michelsen know himself.” It was decided that President Carter would send a “not timid” letter to López telling him that “the President has knowledge of high level corruption,” warning “about the prospect of the good name of Colombia being damaged,” and proposing “the establishment of a high level joint commission to develop maximum cooperation and exchange intelligence information on trafficking and corruption.” The letter would be hand-delivered to López during the upcoming visit of Bourne and Falco.

Document 21

Carter’s letter to the Colombian president, which was hand delivered to López by Bourne and Falco during their June 24 meeting in Bogotá, says that his administration had decided to make “international drug abuse control a high priority.” Carter asks the Colombian president for information on “the involvement of United States citizens in the drug traffic” and says he wanted to provide López with “some information which has come to my attention indicating that a number of high officials in the Colombian government, and several important political figures, may be benefitting directly or indirectly from the illicit drug traffic.” Carter offers López “a complete briefing” on the matter. Carter says he is “concerned that future cooperation between our two countries will be jeopardized” by the corruption problem and proposes a “joint commission” to “share information” on “the illicit drug traffic.”

Attached here is a revealing June 21 memo to Carter from Brzezinski, who tells the President he has “strong reservations about the desirability of pointing so directly [in the draft letter] at a minister in President Lopez’s cabinet,” presumably referring to the minister of defense. Noting “the question of the reliability of our information” and also “Latin American sensitivity to U.S. interference,” Brzezinski thinks Carter’s letter should simply refer to “a number of high officials in the Colombian Government” who “may be benefitting” from the drug trade and say that the U.S. was prepared to provide López with the details in a follow-up “briefing” by top officials.

Document 22

The memcon from Bourne and Falco’s meeting with President López follows an initial summary provided the previous day and that is published in FRUS. This more-detailed readout of the meeting indicates that the lead item on the agenda was the delivery of President Carter’s letter on high-level narcotics corruption in Colombia, “which Lopez immediately opened and read.” López lamented that previous “constructive ideas in the narcotics field” had “come to nothing,” and that the U.S. continued to delay the delivery of long-promised helicopters. López also noted Carter’s new policy on human rights, saying, according to the memcon, “if Colombia were a military dictatorship, action could be faster, but Colombia cannot move as easily as a country where there is no rule of law.” After discussing other matters, Bourne “called attention to the involvement of persons at high levels in the [Colombian government] in trafficking,” adding that “President Carter has a list of such individuals and he would be happy to arrange a private briefing” for López by “representatives of the Intelligence Community in Washington.”

Document 23

In a memo to President Carter, with copies to First Lady Rosalynn Carter and National Security Adviser Brzezinski, the director of the White House Office on Drug Abuse Policy, Peter Bourne, credits First Lady Rosalynn Carter with laying “the ground work” for an “extremely successful” recent meeting with Colombian President López. “He immediately read your letter,” said Bourne, and “responded very favorable to it.” The Colombian president agreed to a number of bilateral steps to deepen anti-narcotics cooperation and, “most importantly he suggested that he would assign a narcotic liaison officer to their embassy here in Washington to work exclusively on the drug issue.”

Bourne also relayed Carter’s “concern over corruption,” telling López that Carter was “aware of information on many people in high positions in Colombia benefitting from the drug traffic.” López “immediately accepted” Carter’s “offer to provide him a confidential briefing” on the matter. Bourne told the President he was arranging for DEA Administrator Peter Bensinger and CIA deputy director E. Harold Knoche (“Hank Knocke”), who had served as acting CIA director during the first two months of the Carter administration, to take the lead on the corruption briefing for López and that they would provide “specific names.” Interestingly, Bourne reported that the Colombian president “made no move to demand large amounts of money, as we thought he might.”

Document 24

Not long after the “positive outcome” of the Bourne/Falco visit with President López, the State Department in this message approves the visit of another U.S. official to discuss the “regional communications project.”

Document 25

A comment included at the bottom of this memo to Brzezinski from NSC Latin America staffer Robert Pastor sheds some light on how Carter’s letter to López was crafted, revealing that it was Carter himself who favored a tougher, more confrontational approach with the Colombian president. At the bottom of a memo that is mostly about Chile, Pastor tells Brzezinski about something he overheard at the State Department. Upon reading a draft of the proposed Carter letter to López on narco-corruption, Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs William Luers had said “I don’t think we should mention the Minister of National Defense,” referring to intelligence linking the Colombian defense minister to narcotrafficking, “but that seems to have been the President’s wishes [sic].” Indeed, Pastor tells Brzezinski that “the President was so much stronger on this issue than the rest of us … that Mathea and I thought we should include it, and if he had second thoughts, it would be easier for him to delete it than to rewrite it in order to add it.” Carter himself had said “that it was curious that he should be bolder than his advisors,” according to Pastor. Brzezinski seems to have been unaware that the defense minister’s name would be included in the draft, since Pastor adds, “If you had called me to ask, I would have be glad to tell you … [B]ut it was finished at 10:00 p.m., and you were gone.”

Document 26

After a briefing from Bourne on the “successful outcome” of their meeting with President López, “The President has authorized the delivery” of long-awaited helicopters to Colombia.

Document 27

The U.S. Embassy, under Chargé d’affaires Robert W. Drexler, recommends that the U.S. also provide President López U.S. intelligence related to “opium cultivation” during the upcoming intelligence briefing on official corruption to help push “for elimination of opium cultivation in Colombia.” This would be done “in the spirit of Bourne/Falco offers of intelligence sharing and would enlist necessary support at highest level for effective enforcement action.” The Embassy “strongly recommends that forceful presentation be made directly to President Lopez” on Colombian opium production to set the stage “for necessary political and bureaucratic decisions for cooperative development of further intelligence and for eradication efforts.”

Document 28

Bourne’s Monthly Narcotic Report to President Carter says, “We are scheduled to provide the promised briefing to President Lopez-Michelsen in Bogota on July 21, 1977. It will be conducted by Peter Bensinger of DEA, a representative of the Central Intelligence Agency under State Department cover and myself.” “The material to be presented has been prepared with exceptional care,” Bourne indicates in the memo, adding that, “consistent with your instructions we will carefully qualify the information we provide making it particularly clear the degree of certainly we attach to it.” Evidence shared with the Colombian president would also include “photos of opium poppies” growing in Colombia, as suggested in the Embassy’s July 6 cable. Bourne also says they will recommend that López “set up, with our help, an Internal Security Division to further investigate corruption.”

Document 29

This untitled report, found among the RAC documents at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, appears to be the text of the intelligence briefing on official corruption in Colombia that was delivered to President López during his July 21 meeting in Bogotá with DEA head Peter Bensinger, White House drug policy chief Peter Bourne, and Lawrence “Larry” Laser of the CIA. While some of the more prominent allegations in the briefing would come to light in a 1978 broadcast of 60 Minutes —which had obtained a copy of Peter Bourne’s June 1 memo (see Document 11)—the full López corruption briefing document, as far as this author knows, including the identities of some three dozen allegedly corrupt officials, has never before been published. The text of the López briefing even somehow evaded the finely honed searches of the State Department’s history staff, who reported the list as “not found” in their 2018 volume covering Latin America during the Carter presidency. One reason for this could be that the document was removed as part of the RAC program at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and then later returned.

The memo is a summary of information acquired by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement sources on narcotics corruption in the Colombian government and seems to address the Colombian president personally. [9] Noting President López-Michelsen’s “sincere interest in attacking the narcotics problem,” the Colombian president is told that the “extent of official corruption in Colombia, especially in the law enforcement and judicial sectors, renders effective enforcement and legal action in the narcotics field very difficult.” Narcotics traffickers and their operations “are greatly facilitated by the cooperation and protection of influential Colombian officials,” without which “they would find it very difficult to operate.”

The briefers inform the Colombian president that the information they are sharing is derived from “law enforcement and criminal intelligence activities in the United States as well as those conducted by foreign governments” and “ranges in quality from solid and detailed to somewhat sketchy” and suggest that “further investigation by your Government would most valuable,” especially in cases of “high-level figures.”

The document lists some three dozen Colombian officials thought to have links to the illegal narcotics business, including prominent figures from political, judicial, law enforcement and military circles. The most prominent person on the list, Julio César Turbay, who would go on to win the next election and serve as president from 1978-1982, is linked to narcotrafficking through his nephew, Anibal Turbay Bernal, who the reports says, “belongs to the narcotics network of Jose Manuel Parra Urrea.” The report says that Turbay’s presidential run “is anticipated by Parra’s organization,” which, as a result of its “multi-million peso investment in Anibal Turbay,” believed it would “be able to choose the heads of the Colombian law enforcement agencies should Julio Cesar Turbay become president.”

Top Colombian officials named in the report include two members of López-Michelsen’s cabinet: the Colombian defense minister, Gen. Abraham Varón Valencia, who the report says had “received narcotics and contraband payoffs,” and the minister of labor, Óscar Montoya Montoya, who is said to “have discussed illicit traffic in cocaine and coffee” with a known narcotics trafficker.

Another key military official singled out in the report is Col. Humberto Cardona Orozco, then the head of INDUMIL, a military weapons manufacturer run by the Colombian government. Cardona, the former head of the Uniformed Customs Police had been “removed” from that position “for narcotics-related corruption,” according to the briefing, which said that Cardona “took bribes from many of Colombia’s leading narcotics smugglers with who he was personally acquainted.” The new position at INDUMIL also “lent itself to narcotics-related corruption,” according to the intelligence briefing,

Other Colombian officials included in the report are:

• Harold Lozano Jaramillo, the former police intelligence chief in Cali, who is said to be “operating a [cocaine] laboratory in his residence in Cali and supplying cocaine hydrochloride at night, traveling in uniform and escorted by his F-2 [police intelligence] bodyguards.” Lozano is said to have been involved in protecting another lab near Cali and to have arranged the release of detained narcotraffickers.
• The former chief of the National Police, Gen. Henry Garcia Bohorquez, who used “his influence to facilitate the activities of several important Colombian narcotics traffickers.”
• Another F-2 official, Capt. Marcos A. Bonilla, who “owned a finca in Florencia where a cocaine laboratory was operating,” according to the report.
• Another police F-2 commander, Lt. Jorge Eliecer Arroyave Zapata, who is said to be “one of the biggest traffickers in Tumaco.”
• Fidel Duarte Sotelo, “a Justice Ministry official” and “brother of Hilda Duarte Sotelo de Robayo,” a known narcotrafficker.
• Arcesio Sánchez Ojeda, a member of congress from Nariño Department who went on to serve as senator and later governor of Nariño. Sánchez “was involved in cocaine trafficking with his brother, Lt. Carlos Vicente Sanchez Ojeda,” a Customs Office official in Buenaventura.
• DAS intelligence officials around the country had been “identified as being directly involved in narcotics trafficking or in supplying information to traffickers,” including Samuel Gutierrez, the DAS chief in Nariño.
• Orlando Ceballos Pineda, the city comptroller of Santa Marta.
• Orlando Noguera, brother-in-law of the governor of Magdalena Department.
• Several Colombian officials who are said to have facilitated the release of narcotrafficker Norberto Moreno Carrillo, including Minister of Defense Varón Valencia, Henry García Orozco, a Supreme Court magistrate in Cundinamarca Department, Martín Suarez Sarabia, a senate official, and Gilardo Ospina, a colonel in the National Police.
• A number of judicial officials accused of having taken bribes from narcotraffickers.
• A naval officer behind a purported scheme to smuggle some 48 kilos of cocaine aboard the Colombian naval training vessel Gloria .

Document 30

The CIA says that U.S.-Colombia drug control relations have strengthened “as a result of last month’s meeting between First Lady Rosalynn Carter and President Lopez.” The U.S. has agreed to $3.7 million in security assistance, including the long-awaited helicopters, “to try to curb the flow of cocaine and other drugs to North America.” For his part, Lopez “agreed to a meeting this week with high-level officials from Washington to discuss the sensitive issue of drug-related corruption in his government.”

Document 31

The Embassy cable on López-Michelsen’s meeting with DEA Administrator Bensinger, White House drug chief Bourne, and Lawrence Laser of the CIA, says the Colombian president was “receptive, candid and forthcoming,” pledging to “set up an elite civilian law enforcement unit to cope with crime and corruption, replacing the F-2 (detective) unit of the National Police.” Bensinger told López-Michelsen that narcotics problems “must be solved jointly by producer and user nations” but that “such cooperation is threatened by narcotics-related corruption,” adding, “[T]here is no question that traffickers are helped and protected by some influential GOC officials.” For that reason, Bensinger said, the U.S. government “wanted to share with President Lopez information which we had developed on such corruption, knowing that his sincere interest in attacking [the] narcotics problem will lead him to make further investigations of his own into these matters.” Bensinger handed the Colombian president “information on about thirty cases which exemplified narcotics-related corruption involving ministerial and judicial officials, military and law enforcement personnel and high-level figures.”

For his part, López-Michelsen “acknowledged that the problem was very bad and indicated that his own reports and information general supported the thrust of the briefing,” though he expressed doubts that the allegations about his defense minister, Gen. Abraham Varón Valencia, chalking them up to “attempts by Varon’s enemies to blacken his reputation and standing with the president.” Still, López-Michelsen admitted that, in Colombia, they were essentially “fighting crime with criminals,” singling out the National Police intelligence directorate (F-2), a key focus of the U.S. dossier, as especially corrupt. The F-2 was “directly involved in murders and kidnappings,” according to the Colombian president, sharing with his U.S. interlocutors his plans to disband the unit and fold its functions into the DAS intelligence organization, which responded to the president, not the military, as was the case with the National Police.

Document 32

Peter Bourne’s memo to President Carter on the López-Michelsen briefing says the Colombian president “did not flinch at any of the information we provided” about narcotics-related corruption in Colombia but pushed back on allegations against the defense minister, Gen. Abraham Varón Valencia. Bourne says he “had the feeling” that López-Michelsen “not only wanted us to know that he knew a great deal more about Varon than we did, but that this was the one person on the list he could not move against directly.” Regarding the F-2 police intelligence directorate, López-Michelsen called it “a nest of criminals.” Bourne tells Carter, “It is clear also that he plans to move aggressively against these people.”

The Colombian president, according to Bourne, “is a tired embattled old man depressed by his failure to accomplish more than 20 per cent of his administrations [sic] original program, who is not particularly popular with the people, and who was badly stung by accusations that his sons were involved in illicit financial transactions.” Bourne says he thinks that López-Michelsen “had planned to drift through his remaining year in office,” but credits Carter with reenergizing the Colombian president. “[T]he interest you and Rosalynn have taken in him has lighted a fire under him and given him the energy, clear goals and inspiration to try to redeem himself in the time he has left,” adding that, “We have also placed in his hands some powerful weapons,” probably referring to the promised military helicopters.

Document 33

In a short letter to President López-Michelsen, Carter says that Bourne has told him of “the considerable progress that we have been able to accomplish together,” since the visit to Colombia of First Lady Rosalynn Carter in June. Carter says that López-Michelsen “can be proud of the aggressive steps” he had taken on dealing with narcotrafficking and expresses a “desire to continue to work closely with you” on narcotics.

Document 34

“President Carter’s offer to provide President Lopez with evidence compiled by US agencies on official corruption in Colombia was unprecedented,” according to this CIA analysis. His meeting in July with a U.S. delegation about the matter was a sign of “steadily improving relations in joint drug control efforts,” according to the report.” For instance, the report notes that, “after hearing information on cases involving ministerial and judicial officials, military and law enforcement personnel, and other high-level figures, Lopez stated that he planned to set up an elite civilian law enforcement unit to cope with crime and corruption in Colombia.” But ultimately the Colombian president’s effectiveness against drugs will be limited by political constraints, according to the report. The same article appeared in the August 6, 1977, edition of the National Intelligence Daily .

Document 35

In a memo to the top State Department narcotics official, State Department assistant legal adviser Louis Fields describes recent U.S. efforts to gain Colombia’s cooperation in the pursuit of Colombians indicted in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. Among the items listed are the “possible narcotrafficking activities” of the son of President López-Michelsen, Alfonso López Caballero, who was believed to be working at the United Nations in New York City. Fields says that federal prosecutors were being careful with the case, and that, “No indictment will be sought in EDNY [Eastern District of New York] or further action involving this individual without prior consultation” with key officials in the State Department.

Also listed are “Griselda Blanca”—which is almost certainly a reference to Griselda Blanco, the infamous, Miami-based narcotrafficker—and her husband Alberto Bravo, who are said to be “sources and financiers” of the drug trade.

The memo also references so-called CENTAC cases that stem from the DEA’s Central Tactical investigations program , established in 1973 to mount conspiracy investigations against groups “at the top of the criminal hierarchy.”

Document 36

Having eventually reached a modus vivendi with the lame duck President López-Michelsen, the U.S. was soon faced with the harsh reality that a candidate with widely rumored ties to narcotraffickers, Julio César Turbay Ayala, would become the next Colombian head of state. The analysis from the newly installed U.S. ambassador, Diego Asencio, is both reassuring with respect to Turbay—“he is probably an honest politician operating in a corrupt milieu”—and bleak on the general outlook for Colombia—“It seems more likely … that the social and political milieu of Colombia has developed to a point that it is vitually [sic] impossible to organize a political group that would not contain elements associated with traffickers.” The situation was “not all bad,” according to the Embassy, as “the fact that traffickers have enormous liquidity and are becoming politically active … is scaring any number of traditional politicians.” The U.S. ambassador said he was “inclined to believe that [Turbay] is basically a sound individual, functioning pragmatically in a corrupt milieu.”

Document 37

After the foreign and Colombian press reported on allegations that the U.S. had given López-Michelsen a list of corrupt officials that included Gen. Abraham Varón Valencia, the defense minister, the U.S. Embassy’s deputy chief of mission, Robert Drexler, was approached by the prosecutor general of the Colombian armed forces, Vice Admiral Melendez, who said that Varón was “obviously innocent” based on a supposedly strong record against narcotraffickers. According to Melendez, López-Michelsen had told Varón that he had first learned about that allegations about him in a report from a U.S. congressional delegation (“the CODEL Wolff report”), but a subsequent story in Le Monde had indicated that there was another report, presumably the secret report given to López-Michelsen by Bourne and Bensinger in July 1977 (but erroneously assumed by Varón and Melendez to have been delivered earlier by Mrs. Carter). After learning of the second report, “Varon went to see the president again,” according to the cable, and “Lopez acknowledged that the [U.S. government] had given him further information (in addition to the Wolff report)” but told the defense minister that “he did not take [the allegation] seriously and that Varon should not worry about it.”

Melendez suggested that the U.S. might allow López-Michelsen to make the intelligence report public “so that the flimsiness of the charges against Varon would be revealed.” The DCM replied that the “quality and the reliability of the data naturally varied and it had to be held closely to protect innocent people, to safeguard sensitive sources and also to avoid compromising ongoing or future investigations and prosecutions,” but that, ultimately, “It was up to President Lopez himself to decide how to handle any information and reports that we had provided him personally. This particularly applied to their dissemination to other Colombian officials.”

In the “Comment” section, the Embassy notes that Varón is unlikely to let the matter go and further that “Ambassador needs to consult with Varon on several issues,” including “military cooperation in bilateral narcotics control efforts,” adding that, “Varon himself may decide to be especially helpful and cooperative in these matters in order to help disprove the allegations against him.”

Document 38

In an aide-mémoire to the U.S. government, forwarded in this Embassy cable, President López-Michelsen outlines his concerns about revelations in Le Monde and in the Colombian media of the existence of a secret U.S. list of Colombian officials corrupted by the drug trade. Here the Colombian president’s message is being forwarded on to the State Department with copies delivered to Mathea Falco (State Department narcotics adviser), Peter Bensinger (DEA administrator) and Peter Bourne (White House drug adviser).

López-Michelsen opens his message with what appears to be a vague threat. Recalling First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s June 1977 visit, the Colombian president notes that she was the first person to tell him that the U.S. was preparing to share with him a list of Colombian officials linked to narcotrafficking. “It should be noted,” he adds, that Mrs. Carter had also asked him “to accelerate the judicial processes against American citizens involved in such crimes,” including “a person with connections to an influential North American senator, a friend of President Carter.” Citing “limitations proper to the separation of powers,” López-Michelsen implies that there is little he can do to help Carter’s friend.

The rest of the document explains the Colombian president’s concerns about specific allegations in the “ultra secret document” that had been given to him by Carter’s representatives the previous year and in a report issued later by a U.S. congressional delegation. Noting the allegations against Gen. Varón Valencia and the son of presidential candidate Julio César Turbay Ayala, López-Michelsen upbraids the U.S. government for giving “the appearance of truth to gossip picked up in Bogota,” saying that the U.S. “has limited itself to delivering to the government of Colombia possible clues on narcotics traffickers in some cases, and in others, political stories that have circulated for some time and have been collected without any analysis.” Saying that “the good name of Colombia has been compromised by the publication of these reports,” the president ends by noting that “the Communist Party” was “the principal beneficiary of the speed with which such unfounded reports have been leaked”—reports that make it appear that the so-called ‘establishment’ and the government itself is a syndicate of delinquents.”

Document 39

In a cable directed to Bourne, Bensinger, Falco, and others, U.S. Ambassador Diego Asencio evaluates the impact of news stories based on leaked information revealing that the U.S. had given President López-Michelsen a secret list of corrupt Colombian officials. The Colombian president had given Asencio “a personally drafted and closely held aide memoire, which is a species of defense of the GOC’s position in the matter and which he intends to use if further disclosures are forthcoming.” Asencio characterizes the aide-mémoire as “a slipshod document refutable on any number of points and drafted for the sole purpose of creating a political impact.”

Ambassador Asencio nevertheless sees the downside of freezing out the minister of defense, Gen. Varón Valencia, whose name had appeared in the recent news stories. To do so “would risk the current narcotics program which is now beginning to show promise after a sometimes difficult gestation period. The present cooperative framework would probably disappear. We would abandon our objective of building a viable narcotics unit, now with potential to survive presidential elections.” Asencio says that he intends “to meet with the minister of defense privately and encourage him and his agency to become more active participants in the narcotics program as a means of demonstrating his bona fides.”

Document 40

Bourne is concerned about news circulating in Washington that the 60 Minutes television program was planning a story on corruption in Colombia. The story is to be based in part on leaked copy of Bourne’s June 2, 1977, memo to President Carter, which included a one-page summary of some of the more notable names on the longer list that was eventually given to López-Michelsen. Bourne here describes it as “a list of high ranking individuals in Colombia whom we knew to be involved in drug trafficking.” The 60 Minutes story would ultimately air in April 1978.

Bourne is worried about the White House’s handling of classified information, recalling that he had previously raised with Lipshutz “the problem of xeroxed copies of classified memos circulated for comment in the White House ending up in the agencies,” as he thinks happened in this case. Bourne incorrectly assumes, however, that the memo, one copy of which even bears Carter’s handwritten annotation, “was circulated only to the NSC” and not to the President.

Document 41

After leading presidential candidate Julio César Turbay and the defense minister, Gen. Abraham Varón Valencia, published letters to and from the U.S. ambassador about charges of drug corruption that had aired the previous day on the 60 Minutes TV program, U.S. Ambassador Diego Ascencio met with his “own kitchen cabinet” of Colombian political operatives who were divided over whether the allegations hurt or helped Turbay’s campaign. Asencio also reports that he spoken with Varón “and berated him mildly for violating the terms of our agreement,” presumably to not react in a way that would upset U.S.-Colombia relations.

Document 42

This cable reproduces an exchange of letters between U.S. Ambassador Diego Ascencio and two individuals named in a recent 60 Minutes television program about narcotics corruption in Colombia: the leading presidential candidate Julio César Turbay and Gen. Abraham Varón Valencia, the minister of defense. Turbay and Varón had made the letters public on April 6, the day after the program aired.

[1] A footnote in the relevant FRUS volume indicates that the text of the intelligence briefing was “not found” in the files reviewed by State Department historians.

[2] At one point, the document reads: “It is for this reason that we want to share with you the following information that we have developed on narcotics-related official corruption in your country, knowing your sincere interest in attacking the narcotics problem will result in an investigation of your own into this matter.”

[3] The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, Foreign Affairs Oral History Project, Robert W. Drexler, Interviewed by Charles Stuart Kennedy , Initial interview date: March 1, 1996, Copyright 1998, ADST.

[4] In a press conference held on a plane en route from Bogotá to Caracas, Venezuela, Mrs. Carter told reporters only that she had “very serious” talks with López about the narcotics problem and that Bourne and Falco would soon be dispatched to Colombia for further discussions about the issue. (See “Drug Traffic, ‘Very Serious,’ Mrs. Carter Tells Colombia,” The Washington Post , June 10, 1977)

[5] See Nicholas Gage, “ Latins Now Leaders Of Hard-Drug Trade ,” The New York Times , April 21, 1975; Nicholas Gage, “ Drug‐Smuggling Logistics Bizarre and Often Fatal ,” The New York Times , April 22, 1975.

[6] Stevens said there was no evidence that any of the 72 U.S.-supplied helicopters, which were in the hands of the Colombian Air Force, had been used to smuggle drugs. (See Document 16)

[7] “ U.S. to Aid Colombia Stop Flow of Drugs ,” The Washington Post , July 8, 1977.

[8] Earlier that year, the Colombian media revived previous allegations about the sons of President López citing evidence that Juan Manuel López Caballero had been involved in possibly illicit real estate transactions.

[9] At one point, the document reads: “It is for this reason that we want to share with you the following information that we have developed on narcotics-related official corruption in your country, knowing your sincere interest in attacking the narcotics problem will result in an investigation of your own into this matter.”

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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