Prosecution witnesses at the trial of Manuel Noriega recounted the smuggling of cocaine-refining chemicals into Colombia by way of Panama - but acknowledged they never saw the former dictator get directly involved.
Former smuggler Jaime Castillo was the latest witness to the shipments. He was to retake the stand today.All the witnesses to the shipments so far said they worked closely with Noriega aide Lt. Col. Julian Melo, and that Melo claimed to have the dictator's approval for their business with Colombia's Medellin cocaine cartel.
But Castillo and the others have acknowledged they never saw Noriega get involved personally.
Noriega could face up to 140 years in prison if convicted on charges he took payoffs to protect the drug trade.
On Tuesday, Castillo said he and the cartel's Ochoa family set up a business to use Panama's free trade zone to smuggle into Colombia barrels of ether and acetone. Melo claimed he would protect the shipments in Panama, and took millions from the cartel, supposedly for payment to his boss, Castillo said.
Castillo's testimony varied sharply on key points from that of his partners.
The prosecution has tried to show that bribes through Melo went to Noriega; the defense claims Melo kept the money.