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November 26, 1991|From Associated Press

MIAMI Colombian drug lords gave the U.S.-backed Nicaraguan Contras up to $10 million inthe early 1980s, imprisoned kingpin Carlos Lehder testified Monday in Manuel A. Noriega'sdrug-smuggling trial.

Lehder, who is trying to reduce his life sentence for drug trafficking by testifying againstNoriega, acknowledged the contribution after the defense confronted him with a March, 1990,prison interview he had granted.

"To the best of my knowledge, there was some contribution to the Contra anti-communistmovement," said Lehder, a founding member of the Medellin cocaine cartel. "It could bearound $10 million."

When asked if he provided some of the cartel's payment to the Contras, Lehder responded:"Apparently I did, sir."

Defense attorney Frank Rubino asked if the money was in exchange for a U.S. "green light" toship drugs to the United States through Contra bases in Costa Rica.

"I don't recall any of that, sir," Lehder answered. "I do recall that there were shipments going

through Costa Rica."

The government's attorneys objected repeatedly to questions about the Contras. U.S. DistrictJudge William M. Hoeveler said he would allow limited questioning.

In the prison interview, Lehder had said the drugs were flown by way of a Costa Rican ranchowned by U.S. citizen John Hull, currently a fugitive charged with murder in that CentralAmerican country. Hull was major supporter of the Contras in the mid-1980s.

But Lehder testified Monday that he only had "second-hand information" about Hull'sinvolvement.

The prison interview had been given to a Playboy magazine writer but was never published.

Ex-Contra leader Adolfo Calero, who now lives in Miami, angrily denied the charges Monday.

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