CHAPTER 8, LINK 13, NORIEGA NEWS ARTICLES

NOTE:  In 1988, Panamanian El Presidente Manuel Noriega was heavily involved in the drug business.  U.S. intelligence operatives – especially secret agents like Wanta – had difficulty knowing with whom they could talk because Noriega had a secret protection service.  No one knew who they were.  A ;plan was crafted to provide weapons for this “secret army” of Noriega’s.  Quality weapons would be made available to them… but a computer chip would be hidden in each one so it could be tracked and the secret army surrounding and protecting Noriega could be identified.  Leo Emil Wanta was a weapons expert and was involved in this operation.  When Panamanian Ambassador Juan B. Sosa. exposed the plan, he also exposed Wanta… and as  you may recall, resulted in the need for American troops to invade Panama to arrest Noriega.  These are the articles referred to in the Lausanne Tribunal Hearing.

The Associated Press

March 24, 1988, Thursday, PM cycle

SECTION: Washington Dateline

LENGTH: 643 words

BYLINE: By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:

Panamanian strongman Manuel Antonio Noriega is trying to arrange through a U.S. arms dealer for the immediate delivery of 5,000 semi-automatic pistols to his military forces, according to a secret document.

Coupled with the reported acquisition of large quantities of weapons from Cuba in recent days, the proposed purchase of the pistols indicates that Noriega may be intent on using force to remain in power, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

A proposal by the U.S. dealer promises delivery of an additional 25,000 pistols at the rate of 2,000 a month. A Panamanian Defense Force major who defected last Friday said over the weekend that Cuba recently had provided Panama with 94,000 pounds of weapons, including large numbers of AK-47 rifles. A general strike protesting Noriega's continued rule has left the country virtually paralyzed, but Noriega has given no sign that he intends to step down as commander of the Defense Forces.

The dealer which is arranging for the export of the Belgian-made Browning 9mm pistols is AmeriChina Global Management Group of Appleton, Wis.

A copy of the proposed transaction, marked "urgent" and "confidential" was provided to The Associated Press by Panamanian Ambassador Juan B. Sosa. He was informed of the possible transaction last Saturday by AmeriChina President Leo Wanta.

Sosa said Wanta discussed the deal with him unaware that Sosa had broken with Noriega almost a month ago and has remained loyal to ousted President Eric Arturo Delvalle. At Sosa's request, Wanta sent him a telecopy of the proposed deal, which was addressed to Noriega and to his chief of Ordnance Services, Lt. Col. Eugenio Corro. The arms package is worth more than $10 million.

State Department officials said there was no legal way the U.S. government could block the transaction because the pistols are not of U.S. origin.

But they expressed keen interest in a reference at the bottom of proposal to an apparent request by the Panamanian military for M-16 rifles. The reference asked whether Panama had reached any decision on the "procurement-delivery" of the M-16's.

Any such request would require U.S. approval and would be rejected, said the State Department officials, insisting on anonymity.

The M-16 is manufactured by Colt Industries, based in New York City. A Colt official, who asked not to be identified, said Colt would never export the M-16 without U.S. government approval.

The State Department officials said they had no record of any company by the name of AmeriChina. They said all companies that manufacture or export weapons must register with the government and that failure to do so carries stiff penalties.

Reached by telephone at his Wisconsin office, Wanta asked how the AP had obtained a copy of his memo to Noriega and was indignant when he was told of Sosa's role.

"You tell Sosa he will have a lot of explaining to do in about 12 minutes," Wanta said. He then hung up.

Sosa said that in his conversation last Saturday with Wanta, the arms dealer had asked for Panama's military attache but Sosa took the call himself because the attache no longer shows up at the embassy.

Sosa said he felt it was his duty to make the proposed deal public because of the possibility that the weapons might be used against the Panamanian people.

The pistols are to be sent to Panama from Antwerp, Belgium, the country where the weapon was originally commissioned more than 50 years ago.

The weapons are described as "high-power" with fixed sights. The price listed is $398 each.

The delivery schedule calls for shipment of 5,000 of the pistols immediately and an additional 2,000 units per month thereafter "until 25,000 units are delivered."

            There are an estimated 10,000 to 11,000 members of Panama's Defense Forces. They are supplemented by undisclosed numbers of paramilitary forces and militia.

The Associated Press

April 8, 1988, Friday, AM cycle

SECTION: Washington Dateline

LENGTH: 597 words

HEADLINE: Secret Memo on Arms Deal Leaked by Panamanian Military

BYLINE: By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:

A secret memo outlining a plan by Panamanian strongman Manuel Antonio Noriega to acquire thousands of semi-automatic pistols has been leaked to an opposition leader by a rebel member of Panama's military.

The proposed acquisition of the Browning 9mm pistols is part of a sizable weapons buildup by Panama's Defense Forces that got under way shortly after Panama's crisis began six weeks ago with Noriega's ouster of President Eric Arturo Delvalle.

The memo was sent to Noriega on April 1 by Leo Wanta, president of AmeriChina Global Management Group Inc., an arms exporting firm based in Appleton, Wis. Wanta told Noriega in the memo that the supplier of the weapons had advised that "they are ready to finalize the delivery" of the pistols.

The schedule called for the delivery of 5,000 pistols immediately and 2,000 per month thereafter until "all units are delivered."

The memo did not specify how many weapons were to be sent all told. But a previous memo by Wanta, obtained by The Associated Press last month, said the purchase involved 30,000 pistols, including the 5,000 to be sent immediately. The list price is $398 each.

The earlier memo was given to the AP by Panamanian Ambassador Juan B. Sosa. Wanta had sent a telecopy of the memo to Sosa, unaware that the envoy had broken with Noriega and continues to regard Delvalle as the legitimate president of Panama. Sosa has refused to relinquish the embassy to a replacement envoy named by the new government in Panama.

Wanta sent the April 1 memo directly to Noriega, bypassing the embassy here. A stamp in the upper left hand corner of the communication said it was received by the Defense Forces on April 5.

The memo was leaked by a Defense Force officer to a Panamanian opposition leader, who turned over a copy to the AP on condition he not be identified either by name or location.

The pistols are manufactured by Fabrique Nationale, S.A., of Belgium and are to be delivered from that country to Panama, according to the memo. The State Department raised the issue late last month with the Belgian firm, which said that it had not had contact with anyone from AmeriChina, a U.S. official said.

The U.S. government cannot legally block the sale because the weapons are not of American origin. The U.S. official, insisting on anonymity, said AmeriChina has not registered with the U.S. government, a requirement he said applies to all American arms dealers.

Wanta could not be reached for comment. The company phone number that appeared on the first memo was deleted from the second memo. The phone has been "temporarily disconnected," according to a recorded announcement. The only address listed is a post office box.

Concerning Panama's arms buildup, a Panamanian pilot who defected from the Defense Forces last month said he and two other pilots flew 94,000 pounds of weapons to Panama from Cuba on Noriega's behalf a few days after the political turmoil in Panama erupted.

Another aspect of the military buildup is a training program for thousands of Panamanians, who have formed into volunteer units known as "Dignity Brigades" to repel what the government says is an imminent U.S. invasion.

Some of the brigades are being trained in the use of M-16 rifles. The two memos sent by Wanta make reference to a possible deal with the Defense Forces involving M-16s.

           A U.S. official said the transfer of M-16s to Panama would require U.S. government approval because they are manufactured by an American company, Colt Industries. He added that the government would disapprove any such request.

 

April 9, 1988, Saturday, PM cycle 

SECTION: Washington Dateline

LENGTH: 488 words

HEADLINE: Proposed Gun Deal Exposed by Panamanian Officer

BYLINE: By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:

A rebel member of Panama's Defense Forces has smuggled out a memo detailing the efforts of military strongman Manuel Antonio Noriega to buy thousands of pistols from an American arms dealer.

The memo, marked "urgent" and "confidential," was sent to Noriega on April 1 by Leo Wanta, president of AmeriChina Global Management Group Inc., an arms exporting firm based in Appleton, Wis.

The document offered fresh evidence of Noriega's intention to ride out Panama's prolonged political crisis partly with help of a large infusion of foreign weapons. A Defense Forces defector said last month he had helped fly to Panama 94,000 pounds of weapons from Cuba. In what appeared to be a major security breach aimed at blocking the purchase by his boss, the unidentified officer leaked the memo to a Panamanian opposition leader. The memo was turned over to The Associated Press on condition the leader be identified neither by name nor location.

Wanta told Noriega in the memo that the supplier of the weapons had advised that "they are ready to finalize the delivery" of the Browning 9mm semi-automatic pistols made in Belgium.

The schedule called for the delivery of 5,000 pistols immediately and 2,000 per month thereafter until "all units are delivered."

The memo did not specify how many weapons were to be sent all told. But a previous memo by Wanta, obtained last month by the AP, said the purchase involved 30,000 pistols, including the 5,000 to be sent immediately. The list price is $398 each.

The earlier memo was given to the AP by Panamanian Ambassador Juan B. Sosa. Wanta had sent a telecopy of the memo to Sosa, unaware that the envoy had broken with Noriega and continues to regard ousted President Eric Arturo Delvalle as the country's constitutional leader. Sosa has refused to relinquish the embassy to a replacement envoy named by the new government in Panama.

Wanta sent the April 1 memo directly to Noriega, bypassing the embassy here. A stamp in the upper left hand corner of the communication said it was received by the Panamanian Defense Forces on April 5.

The pistols are manufactured by Fabrique Nationale, S.A., of Belgium and are to be delivered from that country to Panama, according to the memo. The State Department raised the issue late last month with the Belgian firm, which said that it had not had contact with anyone from AmeriChina, a U.S. official said.

The government cannot legally block the sale because the weapons are not of American origin. The U.S. official, insisting on anonymity, said AmeriChina has not registered with the U.S. government, a requirement he said applies to all American arms dealers.

Wanta could not be reached for comment. The company phone number that appeared on the first memo was deleted from the second memo. The phone has been "temporarily disconnected," according to a recorded announcement. The only address listed is a post office box.

Copyright 1988 The Times Mirror Company

Los Angeles Times

March 27, 1988, Sunday, Home Edition

SECTION: Part 1; Page 27; Column 1; Foreign Desk

LENGTH: 654 words

HEADLINE: RIVAL FACTIONS SHARE BUILDING;

PANAMA'S U.S. EMBASSY: IT OPERATES ON TWO LEVELS

BYLINE: By DON SHANNON, Times Staff Writer

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:

Panama's embassy here is a house divided – even subdivided – by the struggle for national leadership at home.

Ambassador Juan B. Sosa, loyal to deposed President Eric A. Delvalle and recognized by the Reagan Administration, holds the keys to the building and has an office on the upper floor. He also controls the first-floor entry area, where a portrait of Delvalle is prominently displayed on the wall.

At the rear of the lower floor, however, is the office of Roberto Leyton, Panama's envoy to the Organization of American States. Leyton remains loyal to Panama's military strongman, Gen. Manuel A. Noriega, and his office displays a large poster of a smiling Noriega wearing fatigues. Even the second floor is not all Delvalle's. Capt. Jose S. Motta continues to function on the upper floor as Panama's military attache, although he does not acknowledge Sosa as his boss.

"It's peaceful coexistence," Flavio Mendez, second deputy to Sosa, said in an interview Friday.

"We like him (Motta) and we talk," Mendez said. "All of us in the building are on good terms -- after all, we're Panamanians."

But nobody, no matter whose side he's on, is getting paid.

Leyton gets a check from the government of President Manuel Solis Palma, who was installed by Noriega's compliant legislature when Delvalle was fired after he tried and failed to dislodge Noriega.

But Leyton said that his paycheck is drawn on a New York bank account that, along with other Panamanian assets in the United States, has been frozen by a U.S. court at Delvalle's request.

Sosa, Mendez and other embassy staff members who have declared for Delvalle get no checks at all.

"It's only been 20 days," Mendez said, "and we're living on savings."

Leyton said he was annoyed that U.S. courts allowed Delvalle to control Panama's assets.

"It sets a bad precedent because the (Panamanian) constitution does not give the executive total financial power," Leyton said. "We have an elected comptroller, and the national legislature has a voice in money decisions also."

Leyton said that Panama's ambassador to the United Nations, Jose Eduardo Ritter, is seeking legal counsel to contest the freeze order. Ritter is a Noriega loyalist, but another Panamanian diplomat in New York -- the consul general -- backs Delvalle.

"Incidentally," Leyton said, "I don't like being called a Noriega man, because I represent the government of my country. I am the ambassador of my country to the OAS."

Leyton, who retained his seat in the OAS in the face of a challenge from a Delvalle representative, said he hopes that the political dilemma will be resolved before the "destruction of the economy." All the political parties must be brought into a national dialogue, he said.

"The only way is if we all sit at the same table," Leyton said. "Time is running out and national elections are coming in 1989."

The divided loyalties of the Panamanian diplomats in Washington have bred some semi-comic cases of mistaken identity.

A Wisconsin arms exporter called the embassy last week, for example, to discuss an order by the Noriega regime for up to 30,000 Belgian semiautomatic pistols. But the exporter, Leo Wanta, president of AmeriChina Global Management Group, was connected not to a Noriega loyalist but to Sosa, who asked for a copy of the arms deal.

Sosa promptly told the U.S. government about the deal. "I'm not going to give Panama nothing now," Wanta was quoted by the Milwaukee Journal as saying.

Although earlier reports said that Wanta lacked State Department authorization to sell arms abroad, Wanta said that he had applied to the department for a license that would have allowed him to earn $10 per weapon.

State Department spokeswoman Phyllis Oakley said Friday that the sale had been investigated but that, because the weapons would actually be shipped from Belgium to Panama, the United States could not legally bar the deal.

Copyright 1988 U.P.I.

March 25, 1988, Friday, BC cycle

SECTION: Washington News

LENGTH: 345 words

BYLINE: By NEIL ROLAND

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:

Panamanian Ambassador to the United States Juan Sosa said Friday he was informed last week of a proposal by a Wisconsin dealer to deliver as many as 25,000 pistols to Panamanian strongman Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega.

In a telephone interview with United Press International, Sosa said he was informed of the proposal by an official of AmeriChina Global Management Group of Appleton, Wis.

''This is one more proof he (Noriega) is digging in and has no intention of leaving'' Panama, Sosa said. Noriega, who faces criminal drug charges in the United States, continued to resist the mounting economic and political pressures from the opposition in his own country and the United States.

Sosa said an official of AmeriChina, at his request, sent him a telecopy of the proposed arms deal on Monday.

The proposal involved the shipment 5,000 semi-automatic pistols to Noriega immediately, followed by an additional 25,000 pistols at 2,000 a month. The guns were to be sent from Antwerp, Belgium.

Sosa has remained loyal to Eric Arturo Delvalle, who was ousted as president by Noriega. He said the telecopied arms proposal had been sent by AmeriChina President Leo Wanta and addressed to Noriega. Sosa said Wanta apparently was under the impression he was still loyal to Noriega.

Wanta was not immediately available, but he was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Thursday as saying, ''I'm just upset that Sosa is lying like hell. I'm not going to give Panama nothing now.''

Wanta, describing himself as an independent contractor, told the Journal he had applied for the gun deal with the State Department and that he had a classification that allowed him to act as the middleman to sell weapons to ''recognized countries sanctioned by the United States.''

Wanta said he would make $10 on each gun, which had been priced at $398 for Noriega.

At the State Department, spokeswoman Phyllis Oakley said her agency has looked into the matter. She said although ''it is not a healthy, positive development,'' the United States lacks legal authority to stop the sale.  JUAN SOSA (95%); MANUEL ANTONIO NORIEGA (94%); LEO WANTA (90%);