Manuel Noriega

Manuel Antonio Noriega , 1938-, Panamanian general. Commander of the Panamanian Defense Forces from 1983, Noriega consolidated the strong-armed rule inherited from Gen. Omar Torrijos Herrera , and became the de facto leader of Panama. A one-time operative for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, he was implicated in drug trafficking, the sale of U.S. secrets to Cuba, and other illegal activities. U.S. officials urged him to step down (Jan., 1988), but he refused. Following the murder of a U.S. marine on the streets of Panama City, President George H. W. Bush ordered troops to Panama (Dec., 1989). Noriega was captured and brought to the United States to stand trial. He was convicted (Apr., 1992) on charges of racketeering, money laundering, and drug trafficking, and sentenced to up to 40 years in prison. France sought to extradite Noriega after his prison sentence ended in 2007; he remained in U.S. custody while fighting extradition.

Noriega, Manuel (1936–) Panamanian general and de facto head of state (1983–89). Although he was a dictatorial ruler and suspected of collusion with drug lords, the United States supported Noriega, a one-time operative for the Central Intelligence Agency, in return for his help against the counterrevolutionary Contras in Nicaragua. When his was no longer needed and Noriega's involvement in drug trafficking became apparent, U.S. officials urged him to step down but he refused. When a U.S. marine was murdered in Panama City, President George H. Bush ordered troops to Panama (1989). Noriega was brought to the United States, where he was tried, convicted on charges related to drug trafficking (1992), and sentenced to forty years in prison.

Noriega, Manuel ( Antonio Morena) (1934– ) Panamanian dictator and general. In 1963, he became head of Panama's National Defense Forces. Recruited as a CIA operative by the USA, Noriega became an important backstage powerbroker. For most of the 1980s, he was Panama's paramount leader, ruling behind puppet presidents. In 1988, he was indicted by a US court on drug-connected charges and accused of murder. In December 1989, US troops invaded Panama and installed a civilian government. Noriega surrendered to US forces, and was taken to the USA for trial on corruption, drug trafficking and money laundering. In April 1992, he received a 40-year prison sentence.