1960Reputable source · 2 sourcesWell documented
The CIA Hires the Mafia
On the timeline · around 1960 ·
What happened
The CIA turned to organized crime, using go-between Robert Maheu to recruit mobsters — including Sam Giancana, Johnny Roselli and Santo Trafficante — to arrange Castro's murder. The mob, which had lost lucrative Havana casinos to the revolution, was a willing partner.
Why it matters
The government secretly partnering with the Mafia to kill a foreign head of state was among the most explosive revelations when the plots later came to light.