Drug Unit Said to Have Neglected Evidence of Noriega Trafficking
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Members of Congress and Justice Department officials say the Drug Enforcement Administration appears to have overlooked strong evidence of drug trafficking by the Panamanian military leader, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, while seeking Panama’s help in investigating other narcotics cases. Members of Congress and Justice Department officials say the Drug Enforcement Administration appears to have overlooked strong evidence of drug trafficking by the Panamanian military leader, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, while seeking Panama’s help in investigating other narcotics cases. General Noriega’s indictments last week on Federal racketeering and drug charges has put the agency on the defensive. Its administrator, John C. Lawn, wrote to General Noriega as recently as last May to praise him for his ”personal commitment” to a big drug investigation. Agency Kept Up Close Ties Robert H. Feldkamp, a spokesman for Mr. Lawn, said the criticism of the agency was unfair. He noted that it was evidence gathered by the agency that led to General Noriega’s indictments. ”This was our investigation,” he said. ”We pulled together every shred of evidence that went to the grand jury, every allegation.” More : query.nytimes.com |