Noriega’s Agents Opened Skies to Drug Planes, Air Controller Says

MIAMI —  Manuel A. Noriega’s intelligence branch opened Panama’s skies to small Colombian planes and used the nation’s airport to ship cocaine-processing chemicals, a former Panamanian air controller testified Thursday.

Anel Perez said he watched through binoculars as Noriega greeted Medellin cocaine cartel chief Jorge Ochoa at Panama’s principal airport three times in 1983.

Perez said he saw boxes of money being unloaded from Noriega’s small jet and spirited out of the airport through an emergency gate--all under the eyes of Noriega’s G-2 intelligence branch.

The defense challenged Perez’s motives, saying he was fired in 1988 after he helped lead an air controller’s strike in Panama. He sought out prosecutors when Noriega was captured by U.S. invasion troops in January, 1990.

“I looked for a way to come here and testify,” Perez said. “I cannot like the man--that would not make sense.”

The testimony was aimed at showing that Noriega gave protection to cartel planes and shipments, as well as laundering drug cash. He is charged with 10 drug and racketeering counts and faces a maximum of 140 years in prison if convicted of all the charges.

Perez denied defense claims that the government helped him get a work permit and U.S. residency in exchange for his testimony.