The commission concluded that the contra resupply network in Costa Rica which North coordinated from the White House doubled as a drug smuggling operation.
The narcotics commission started probing the contra network centered around the northern Costa Rican ranch of U.S.-born John Hull because of "the quantity and frequency of the shipment of drugs that passed through the zone." North's personal notebook mentioned "the necessity of giving Mr. Hull protection." (San Juan Star, Puerto Rico, 7/22/89).