Noriega got $10 million in drug bribes, court told

MIAMI Former Panamanian leader Manuel A. Noriega took $10 millionin bribes to protect at least 15 tons of U.S.-bound cocaineshipments, a former Panamanian ambassador said Wednesday in pleadingguilty to charges in the case.

Ricardo Bilonick, 44, served as ambassador at large in Washingtonunder Noriega's predecessor, Omar Torrijos, and had an interest inseveral Panamanian airlines.

But his most important role was serving as the representative ofColombia's Medellin cocaine cartel in Panama, Assistant U.S. AttorneyMyles Malman told a federal judge.

"Bilonick has deep, historic ties to the Medellin cartel," theprosecutor said. "Bilonick would act as a conduit …