LP--
Enjoyed your posts on Shaw.
Likely, Shaw was one of thousands of domestic intel assets who sometimes traveled overseas.
Shaw was well-placed to learn about the business and economic scenes of Southern Europe, and also to provide travel and shipments cover.
I can see why Shaw would be a "highly paid contract source."
PS an immediate family member of mine used to travel to the Soviet Union in the 1960s, and was debriefed when he came back. I don't think he was paid. But then, maybe he didn't know as much valuable info as Shaw did.