A life consumed by drugs: Who is Manuel Noriega?
Manuel Antonio Noriega. Former dictator, CIA agent, money laundering, cocaine smuggling, and the elimination of his political rivals all unite under his name.
He was born in 1934 in Panama. He never knew his father. He was raised in the capital by an aunt. He was educated in an American school.
He was the head of state between 1983-1989. It was supported by America against Salvador and Nicaragua at that time.
In 1988, he was indicted by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for money laundering and cocaine trafficking: “North America stop threatening me. Because I am not afraid of death,” he said.
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno (February 11, 1934 – May 29, 2017) was a Panamanian dictator, politician and military officer who was the de facto ruler of Panama from 1983 to 1989. An authoritarian ruler who amassed a personal fortune through drug trafficking operations, he had longstanding ties to United States intelligence agencies before the U.S. invasion of Panama removed him from power.
Noriega canceled the 1989 election results. On the same date, war was declared against the United States.
George Bush, who was sitting in the presidential chair at that time, said that the necessary answer would be given to Noriega and sent his troops to this region: "General Noriega's reckless threats and attacks endanger the lives of 35,000 American citizens in Panama. We sent our army to that region to protect our citizens. We will bring General Noriega to justice in America."
On December 20, 27,000 American soldiers landed in the capital of Panama. The unit's first mission was to capture Noriega. House searched. He took refuge in the Vatican embassy in January 1990. However, he was soon caught and taken to America.
He was tried for drug trafficking and money laundering and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
He denied all charges against Noriega. He said that he stood against American imperialism during the Cold War.
He was sent to France 20 years later in 2010. Here he was sentenced to 7 years in prison for money laundering.
The court ruled that Noriega laundered money from cocaine smuggling through French banks.
In December 2011, at the age of 77, he was extradited to Panama to serve a 20-year sentence. He was transferred to prison under very tight security measures.
Noriega was blamed for the disappearance of three dissidents in the 1970s; however, he did not accept this accusation like the others.