The US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife on Saturday revives memories of the dramatic downfall of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega in 1989, which coincidentally occurred 36 years ago to the day of Maduro’s capture on January 3.
Under former President George HW Bush, US forces launched a surprise invasion of Panama in the early hours of December 20, 1989, accusing Noriega of conspiring with drug traffickers to route cocaine to America.
He also faced accusations of rigging the 1989 presidential election.
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“The goal was to restore the democratically elected government of Guillermo Endara and arrest Noriega on drug trafficking charges,” the U.S. military website said. “At the time, Operation Just Cause was the largest and most complex combat operation since the Vietnam War.”
As with Saturday’s operation involving Maduro, the invasion of Panama proceeded without explicit authorization from Congress to Axios.
Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega during a ceremony commemorating the death of national hero, Omar Torrijos, in Panama City. (Bill Gentile/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Noriega’s capture lasted several weeks, however, as he evaded arrest by taking refuge in the Vatican embassy in Panama City.
US forces used psychological warfare to force Noriega out of hiding.
In a tactic known as Operation Nifty Package, military vehicles fitted with loudspeakers blasted non-stop rock music with a playlist of songs by The Clash, Van Halen and U2. BBC news reported.
Noriega surrendered to US forces on January 3, 1990, 36 years before the US capture of Maduro, and was flown to America to face trial, Axios reported.
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Former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega is pictured in this January 4, 1990 file photo. (Reuters/HOJDP)
The operation resulted in the deaths of 23 U.S. service members and 320 others were injured. According to The Associated Press, the Pentagon estimated that about 200 Panamanian civilians and 314 Panamanian military personnel were killed.
In 1992, Noriega was convicted of drug trafficking in a Miami federal court and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
He was given prisoner of war status, housed in a separate bungalow away from other prisoners, and allowed to wear his Panamanian military uniform and insignia in court, the AP reported.
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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro addresses his supporters during a rally marking the anniversary of the 19th century Battle of Santa Ines in Caracas, Venezuela, December 10. (Pedro Rances Mattey/Anadolu via Getty Images)
After serving seventeen years in an American prison, he was extradited to France and later to Panama. He died in 2017.
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country as part of Operation Absolute Resolve.
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In recent months, the US military has carried out a series of attacks on suspected drug ships reportedly of favor to the Venezuelan regime in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Until a permanent leader can be found, the U.S. government will “administer” Venezuela, Trump said, “until such time as we can achieve a safe, just and judicious transition.”
