Cronkite Testifies in Lehder Cocaine Trial

CBS News special correspondent Walter Cronkite testified Thursday that he was once chased away from a Bahamian island that U.S. prosecutors say was used as a smuggling base by a reputed Colombian cocaine kingpin.

Cronkite’s testimony in the trial of Carlos Lehder Rivas was allowed after the defense argued that the appearance by the former anchorman would add to the “circus atmosphere in this case.”

His testimony wrapped up the ninth week of the government’s case in the trial of Lehder and co-defendant Jack Carlton Reed. They are on trial on a 1981 indictment that alleges they took part in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States from Colombia via the island.

South of Nassau

Cronkite told jurors that he had sailed to Norman’s Cay several times over the years. He said that he usually visited a restaurant and bar on the island, which is about a day’s sail south of Nassau.

However, as he sailed into the Norman’s Cay harbor in December, 1978, Cronkite said he noticed that the harbor was empty and the island appeared to be deserted. He dropped anchor and headed for shore in a dinghy, he said.

“An individual came out on the dock and said, ‘You cannot dock here and furthermore you cannot anchor out there,’ ” he said. “The whole atmosphere was such that we turned around and headed back to the boat and weighed anchor.”

Other prosecution witnesses have testified that Lehder closed the island to visitors, shut down the hotel and bar and restricted flights in and out of the airstrip to protect a cocaine-smuggling operation.