Danny Jones Podcast #345 – Noriega's Secret Deal with Mossad & the DEA: New Docs Expose the Truth | Guest: Cillian Dunne

Date: November 1, 2025
Host: Danny Jones
Guest: Cillian Dunne, investigative journalist and author of The Right-Hand Man
Topic: The secret world of Manuel Noriega, CIA, DEA, Mossad, and Cold War intrigue in Panama, based on new documents and unparalleled access to Noriega’s inner circle.

Overview

In this episode, Danny Jones dives deep into the hidden history of Panama’s infamous dictator Manuel Noriega and exposes the covert deals made with Mossad, the CIA, and the DEA. His guest, Irish journalist Cillian Dunne, shares his first-hand experiences investigating Noriega’s regime, interviewing Noriega’s right-hand man, and unearthing hundreds of previously unpublished documents that alter what we know about American operations in Central America during the Cold War.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

How Cillian Dunne Got Connected with Noriega’s World

• Initial Connection: Dunne was put in touch with Noriega’s network through Jack Moran and Panamanian diplomat Jose Goldner. At the time, Dunne was nearly homeless in LA, but jumped at the chance to pursue the story.
  • “I was like a blank slate going into this. Pretty much I knew who Noriega was, but super surface level.” – Cillian (01:13)
• First Encounter: Met Carlos Wick Green, Noriega’s right-hand man and enforcer. Carlos had deep ties to Mossad, Cuba, and US agencies.
  • “This guy was like a triple spy, right? He was like trained by Mossad in Israel. He was a close confidant of Fidel Castro… He was also one of the first Latin American DEA agents in the world.” – Cillian (06:07)

Panama as the Cold War’s Casablanca

• Espionage Hub: Panama during the 70s and 80s was a hotbed for global intelligence agencies due to its canal and strategic location.
  • “Panama was like the Cold War Casablanca for spies. Every superpower in the world had spies embedded within Panama.” – Cillian (03:02)

Noriega’s Rise: From US Asset to Dictator

• CIA Grooming: Noriega was selected early by the CIA for his intelligence and compliance. Maintained close personal relationships with several CIA directors.
  • “Noriega made it a personal mission to become, like, very good friends with every CIA director.” – Cillian (13:04)
• Power Play: Noriega’s ambivalence—at times helping and at other times playing various sides—let him climb to power, eventually surpassing his mentor.

Carlos Wick Green’s Unique Position

• Quintuple Agent: Carlos worked for Mossad, the DEA, Castro’s Cuba, and, at times, the CIA.
• Legacy and Manipulation: Carlos wished to preserve his legacy but was also highly manipulative, sometimes misleading Dunne, necessitating independent verification.
  • “He actively lied to me. And it was my responsibility to go out there, wallows in Panama and, like, find out the truth.” – Cillian (09:06)

Documents That Rewrite the Story

• Hundreds of Primary Sources: Dunne gained access to declassified correspondence between Noriega and various US agencies, held by Panamanian historian Trujillo.
  • “I hunted down several hundred previously declass... documents that highlight correspondence between Noriega, the CIA, DEA, and Department of Justice…” – Cillian (20:31)
• These revealed the US had enormous gratitude for Noriega’s help with the drug war—and asked for many favors—contradicting official claims.

The US Pattern: Pick a Strongman, Discard When Unneeded

• CIA’s Playbook: The Noriega saga is a case study—used in Chile, Iraq, Iran, Libya, and elsewhere—of the US forming, using, and then discarding foreign leaders.
  • “The theme of the book is that this is a framework for how the CIA and the United States operates all around the world.” – Cillian (22:29)

Mossad, the DEA, and Cubans: A Global Network

• Deals With Mossad: Noriega allowed Israelis to train Panamanian agents, like Carlos, in exchange for building up Panama’s intelligence prowess, seeking autonomy from US dominance.
  • “Noriega knew that the way to build autonomy within the country was by strengthening the intelligence networks… so he made it a point to connect with Mossad.” – Cillian (16:59)
• Connections to Castro and Gaddafi: Noriega sought strategic guidance from leaders like Fidel Castro and Muammar Gaddafi.

The Drug Trade and Noriega’s Double-Dealings

• Role with DEA: As the coke boom surged, Noriega publicly promised to curb trafficking—even as he profited from it.
  • “When the United States needed their trash taken out… they called Noriega, okay? Because they didn’t really want to do it themselves.” – Cillian (28:35)
• The Turning Point – Iran Contra: When Noriega refused to help the US train Contras against Nicaragua’s Sandinistas, his fate was sealed. He went from valued ally to scapegoat.

Invasion, Aftermath, and the Secrets That Died

• Invasion of Panama: Bush Sr., long Noriega’s adversary, launched Operation Just Cause after years of tension and Noriega’s independence.
• Carlos’s Survival: Carlos was by Noriega’s side (and survived both regime and prison by maneuvering between competing agencies).
• Secret Files and Self-Protection: Both Noriega and his network took many secrets to the grave, practicing silence for self-preservation—and so did their American and Cuban counterparts.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On meeting Carlos:

• “He scans me up and down… in English, he goes, ‘You will do a good job.’ And that was it.” (07:41)

On Noriega and Mossad:

• “So Noriega put Carlos’s name forward. And Carlos said, fuck it, I’ll go to Israel. And he went to Israel for, like, two years and trained under this guy Mike Harari.” (15:20)

On intelligence and betrayal:

• “Noriega knew that the way to build autonomy within the country was by strengthening the intelligence networks... but he was always aware the Americans could throw another coup at any time.” (16:59)

On dealing with legacy and truth:

• “I was most worried... feeding into the delusions of somebody who was on his deathbed that didn’t want his legacy to be someone that committed atrocities on the behalf of a dictator.” (66:39)

On covering-up and never knowing the full truth:

• “Will we ever have documentation? Will we ever have like actual real, true proof?” – (86:05)

On being warned off investigating Panama’s banking:

• “I was told that if I thoroughly investigate it, I will find a bullet in my head.” (129:25)

On modern intelligence and disinformation:

• “How just how much social media has affected the nature of intelligence around the world is so nuts.” (61:09)

Noteworthy Segments (Timestamps)

• 00:10 – 07:41: Cillian’s first connection, trip to Panama, meeting with Carlos, and power dynamics.
• 13:04 – 16:21: Noriega’s selection and grooming by the CIA, ties to Mossad, and the infamous Mike Harari connection.
• 20:31 – 22:38: Access to newly uncovered US documents, the book’s central thesis of CIA’s use/disposal method.
• 28:29 – 35:48: Deep details of the drug trade, Escobar’s safe haven in Panama, and the CIA’s dependence on Noriega.
• 35:48 – 39:32: Iran Contra affair, Noriega’s break with the US, and his eventual downfall.
• 84:53 – 90:21: The US invasion, the Panama Deception documentary, and the enduring legacy of state secrets.
• 129:06-131:33: Panama’s role in international money laundering (Panama Papers) and the risks investigative journalists still face today.
• 137:34 – 139:36: Example DEA documents exchanged with Noriega, tangible proof of cooperation and complicity.

The Tone and Style

The episode maintains a tone of intrigue and skepticism, with Cillian clearly displaying both fascination and journalistic rigor. The conversation is driven by detailed storytelling and candid assessment of the dangers, contradictions, and paradoxes of international espionage, the war on drugs, and American foreign policy. Danny is inquisitive and often reacts with incredulity or dark humor, keeping the mood lively despite the gravity of the revelations.

Conclusion

This episode not only uncovers unknown dynamics of US, Israeli, and Panamanian intelligence dealings, but also offers a cautionary tale about how the realities of power, legacy, and secrecy still shape global affairs and the information available to the public. Cillian Dunne’s upcoming book and the documents he shares suggest there are still many shadows in the story of Noriega—and in Cold War history.

Links & Further Reading

• Cillian Dunne's website: therighthandmanbook.com – for documents, details, and book info (Book out November 4).
• Instagram: @D.Killian
• The Panama Deception – 1992 Oscar-winning documentary
• Panama Papers Overview

For Listeners

If you enjoy espionage history, the real mechanics of global power, or just want to know what’s left out of your high school history book, this is a can’t-miss episode.