Noriega, Manuel

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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.

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