General Manuel Noriega

Manuel Noriega was a Panamanian military leader and politician who served as the country's de facto ruler from the late 1980s until 1989. Originally an ally of the United States, he managed Panama's military and intelligence services, but his regime was marked by corruption, drug trafficking, and human rights abuses. In 1989, the U.S. invaded Panama to remove him from power, citing threats to regional stability and drug connections. Noriega was captured, tried, and imprisoned in the United States for drug offenses. He later served time in Panama before being released and passing away in 2017.