A US judge today approved the extradition of Manuel Noriega to France after the former Panamanian dictator has completed a prison sentence in Miami.

Noriega is due to be released from US custody next month after serving his sentence for a 1982 drug trafficking conviction.

He was a key ally of the US in the fight against communism and drug trafficking in Latin America during the 80s, but the relationship soured in 1988 when a Florida court charged him with helping Colombian drug traffickers to smuggle tonnes of cocaine into the US.

Following further accusations of election-rigging and violating human rights, the US launched a military invasion of Panama in 1989. The invasion ended with Noriega being removed from power and put before the US courts.

The French authorities had requested his extradition so he could serve out a sentence on a 1999 money-laundering conviction obtained in absentia.

The decision of US judge William Turnoff was essentially a formality. Last week, a higher ranking federal official rejected claims by Noriega’s lawyers that he should be returned to Panama because he was held in the US as a prisoner of war.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 at 12:25 am While Dave was in Money. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.