Donald Barrios is a wealthy American businessman, in addition to being the connection between the former United States' Drug Enforcement Administration

Drug Enforcement Administration

The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...

 field agent Oscar Danilo Blandon Reyes and Juan Norwin Meneses Cantarero, a prominent Nicaraguan drug lord. Barrios was an old college friend to Blandon. Barrios contacted him early in December 1981 and dispatched him to Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...

 to pick up Meneses. Meneses then took Blandon back to San Francisco and, over two days, schooled him in the cocaine trade. Blandon's alleged purpose for his involvement in the cocaine trade was to raise money for humanitarian and political reasons (albeit illegally).

At a drug trial in San Diego, Blandon revealed his connection to Barrios as a star witness for the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Before Barrios contacted Blandon, Barrios was operating a business partnership in conjunction with Gustavo Medina, one of the top military aides for Anastasio Somoza Debayle

Anastasio Somoza Debayle

Anastasio Somoza Debayle was a Nicaraguan leader and officially the 73rd and 76th President of Nicaragua from 1 May 1967 to 1 May 1972 and from 1 December 1974 to 17 July 1979. As head of the National Guard, he was de facto ruler of the country from 1967 to 1979...

.