News In Brief
| Washington
Sandinistas in drug traffic with US, ex-diplomat charges
A former Nicaraguan diplomat said Thursday that high-ranking Sandinista government officials are directly involved in drug trafficking in an effort to destroy American youth and earn foreign exchange.
Antonio Farach, former minister counselor of Nicaraguan embassies in Venezuela and Honduras, defected to the United States last fall. He said that among those involved are Defense Minister Humberto Ortega and his brother Daniel Ortega, head of the Sandinista government. Mr. Farach said Cuban officials introduced Nicaragua to the drug-smuggling world, mentioning Cuba's defense minister, Raul Castro, Fidel's brother.
