How an Invasion of the Canal Zone Was Foiled
BY PAUL KISSEL
Third of a series
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) investigated flight operations involving Marquet Funes and the late Lloyd Wagg and helped thwart an invasion of Panama with a bizarre arms cache.
Some of the details of this joint operation between the CIA and the Panamanian government were revealed in a series of interviews with former CIA agents and Panamanian officials. The operation was carried out in 1964, during the presidency of Roberto Chiari.
The CIA learned of the planned invasion through an informant who had infiltrated the group of conspirators. The informant reported that the group had stockpiled arms and ammunition in a remote area of Panama and was planning to use them to overthrow the government.
The CIA and Panamanian authorities worked together to locate the arms cache and arrest the conspirators. The operation was successful, and the arms were confiscated before they could be used.
Refused second pair
"The informant had to be very careful," said a former CIA agent who was involved in the operation. "If the conspirators had suspected him, they would have killed him."
The informant's information led the authorities to a remote area of Panama, where they found a cache of weapons, including rifles, pistols, and grenades. The weapons were hidden in a cave and were guarded by armed men.
The authorities arrested the guards and confiscated the weapons. They also arrested several members of the conspiracy, including Marquet Funes and Lloyd Wagg.
The CIA's involvement in the operation was kept secret at the time, but it has since been revealed in declassified documents and interviews with former agents.
Showed planes, named names
In addition to the arms cache, the CIA also uncovered evidence of a planned invasion of the Panama Canal Zone. The conspirators had recruited mercenaries and were planning to use them to seize control of the canal.
The CIA worked with Panamanian authorities to thwart the invasion. They arrested several of the conspirators and confiscated their weapons and equipment.
The operation was a success, and the planned invasion was foiled. The CIA's involvement in the operation was a key factor in its success.
The CIA's role in the operation was controversial at the time, but it has since been recognized as an important contribution to the security of the Panama Canal Zone.
The operation was one of many carried out by the CIA during the Cold War. The agency worked to counter communist influence in Latin America and to support friendly governments in the region.
The CIA's involvement in the operation was a reminder of the agency's role in the Cold War and its efforts to protect American interests in Latin America.
The operation was also a reminder of the dangers faced by CIA agents and informants. The informant who provided the information that led to the operation risked his life to help thwart the conspiracy.
The operation was a success, but it was also a reminder of the challenges faced by the CIA in its efforts to protect American interests in Latin America.