Did the U.S. Government Deal Cocaine?

Rodney Matthews discusses smuggling cocaine with permission from the U.S. government. (RealVideo) (download RealPlayer)

Drug agents say they can’t crack the big cases without dealing with informants. But when the snitch is calling the shots, who is getting the better deal? In a six-month investigation for ABCNEWS, Forrest Sawyer reports on Rodney Matthews, a pot smuggler turned informant, who became one of the biggest embarrassments in the history of the U.S. Customs Service. Sawyer offers an inside look into how the operation led to billions of dollars of cocaine being poured onto the streets of America, and in the process put our government smack in the middle of dealing drugs.

Don’t Let the Bugs Bite
It’s summertime and that means it’s bug time. What can you do about those pesky little insects? PrimeTime Live and the Good Housekeeping Institute are taking the pain out of picking insect repellents. Sylvia Chase gives you the lowdown on the safest, best potions for frightening away mosquitoes and other summer pests.

Airdate: July 1, 1998
The Secret World of L.A. Girl Gangs

Two female gang members take viewers into their dangerous world. (RealVideo) (download RealPlayer)

What does it take to survive in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in America? The life of young women involved in gangs is often fraught with violence and misguided opportunities. Cynthia McFadden chronicles the lives of two female gang members in East L.A. “I shot somebody’s ear off with a .357,” says Mara. “I almost shot somebody’s head off. And I’m sure if I waited a couple of more seconds, you know, pulling the trigger, I would have killed somebody.”

Fit for a President
Though most of the common folk of Beijing live by the humblest of standards, residents still know how to roll out the red carpet for their VIP guests. The villa in which President and First Lady Clinton stayed on their trip to China boasts a four-lane bowling alley, a billiards room and a highly modernized gym. Sam Donaldson takes viewers for a peek inside.

Click here for a more in-depth look at the Diaoyutai compound.