Dictators

Manuel Noriega Extradited to France

Will stand trial for money laundering.

Remember Manuel Noriega? The former Panamanian dictator is back in the headlines again: The U.S. reportedly extradited the disgraced leader from his federal prison just outside Miami to France, via an overnight Air France flight, as he prepares to stand trial there on money laundering charges. The French claim he laundered around $3 million in drug proceeds through luxury apartment purchases in Paris and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed a surrender warrant for Noriega after all court challenges to his extradition were resolved. Noriega was dethroned as Panama’s leader after a 1989 U.S. military invasion and put on trial for drug racketeering.