MKUltra Mind Control Programme (1953-1973)

The CIA's Project MKUltra secretly administered LSD and other drugs to unwitting American and Canadian citizens — including mental patients, prisoners, and CIA employees — to explore mind control and interrogation techniques. At least one death (Frank Olson) is attributed to the programme. CIA Director Richard Helms ordered all MKUltra files destroyed in 1973; the programme was only exposed through a Freedom of Information Act request that found surviving financial records.