Operation 40, CIA covert operation site in Virginia, United States
Operation 40 was a CIA intelligence unit staffed by Cuban exiles and based at multiple sites across northern Virginia. The group focused on intelligence gathering and covert activities directed toward the Caribbean region and operated as part of the agency's broader Cold War operations.
The CIA established Operation 40 in 1960 under President Eisenhower's authorization to conduct activities against the Cuban government following the revolution. The unit represented part of the American response to Cold War developments in the Caribbean.
The group represented a complex intersection of American intelligence services and Cuban exile communities working toward political objectives in the Caribbean.
The northern Virginia location provided closeness to Washington DC while allowing sufficient distance for classified work. Many records and specific sites from this period remain restricted from public access.
The operation took its name from the original roster of exactly forty agents, though the team later expanded to around seventy personnel. This growth reflected increasing intelligence demands during the early Cold War period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
