US Businessman: Blackwater Officials Paid for Steroids, Weapons, for Black Market

Local Editor

According to a US businessman, who worked in Iraq during the US occupation, Blackwater paid him to purchase steroids and other kinds of drugs for its operatives in the Iraqi capital for supply in the black market.

Blackwater also demanded a purchase of more than 100 AK47s and big amounts of ammunition on the black market in Baghdad.

According to Howard Lowry, who worked in Baghdad from 2003 till 2009, added that he attended during the US occupation period, many Blackwater parties in which Blackwater personnel get drunk.

Lowry also described that how after steroids and drugs are taken by Blackwater operatives, they would randomly fire ammunitions out of the balconies, aiming at building and houses full of Iraqi civilians.

In a hearing held September to prosecute some Blackwater officials, Lowry said, "Not only did I purchase the pharmaceuticals, but I was also given money and asked to acquire syringes and other forms or modes of injection as well"

As a businessman, Lowry was able to move more freely than other US Blackwater operatives, where according to him, this was the reason why he was asked by Blackwater officials to purchase steroid and drug devices throughout Baghdad.