Panama’s former dictator Manuel Noriega has died aged 83, BBC reported.

Noriega was put into an induced coma in March after undergoing brain surgery. A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Noriega died at about 11pm local time after his condition suddenly worsened.

Panama's dictator ruled Panama from 1983 to 1989, spying for the CIA before the US invaded in 1989, toppling his brutal regime and ending a drug-trafficking career that associated him with the Colombian kingpin Pablo Escobar.

He was later jailed in the US on drugs and laundering charges.

He spent the rest of his life in custody, latterly in Panama for murder, corruption and embezzlement.

But the former leader was released into house arrest in January to prepare for the operation in early March to remove a brain tumour.