In the
mid-80's Panamanian General Manuel Noriega cooperated with the DEA and
the covert American drug enforcement operation, called Operation
Negocios. It was carried out for several years and relied in part on
information supplied by the Panama Defense Forces, which General Noriega then
commanded.
After the
Iran-Contra Affair,( the Iran Contra trial is highlighted in the upcoming
book, www.illustratedcourtroom.com) the
US became increasingly suspicious of Noriega amid indications that he was
selling his services to other intelligence bodies, not to mention
drug-trafficking organizations.
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| Manuel Noriega in court after arrest in Miami Federal Court in January 1990 |
His trial began 22 years ago in Miami Federal Court on September 6th,1991 and jury selection took a week. The trial ran until April 10th, 1992; Noriega was convicted on 8 of 10 charges. Below is a portrait of Noriega by Kenny.
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| Manuel Noriega by Aggie Kenny |
This was a landmark trial which marked the first time that a former head of a foreign government had ever faced criminal charges in an American court of law. However just this year, the former president of Guatemala, Alphonso Portillo was indicted and brought to the US to face money laundering charges.
Indictment PDF
REFERENCE LINKS
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