The State Department in its report to the US Congress on the fight against drugs identifies Panama as a capable partner to limit the transit of illegal drugs and highlights the record drug seizures during the years 2020 and 2021.
Although it is recognized that Panama is not a large consumer or producer of illicit drugs, its more than 1,500 miles of coastline with nearly 500 rivers, the Panama Canal, and its proximity to Colombia make it a major sea and land passage for cocaine, flowing from South America to North America and Europe.
The Minister of Public Security, Juan Manuel Pino, indicated that so far this year in Panama more than 19 tons of drugs have been seized. “Criminal gangs fight over the damn drug, the fall between them is the cause of homicides in our country.” The minister indicated.
“40% of the coca entering the coasts bound for the North produced in Colombia passes through Panama, transported by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and their associates off the Pacific and Caribbean coasts,” explained Pino.
Less than 5% of Colombian cocaine flows overland across the border due to the dense jungle and lack of roads.
Drug traffickers also take advantage of the millions of containers that pass through the Panama Canal each year to smuggle drugs to North America and Europe.
More than four million containers are transshipped (transferred from one ship to another) in Panamanian ports each year, where they are vulnerable to use in drug smuggling.
Unmanned anti-drug aircraft used in Panama
The report reveals that from January to April 2022, the United States and Panama collaborated to complete a third deployment of the drone system to intercept the illicit flow of narcotics through various transit zones, resulting in the seizure of 13 tons of cocaine, 3 tons of marijuana and the arrest of 56 suspects.
The strong flow of drugs of Colombian origin has led Panama to be an aggressive country and a highly capable partner for anti-narcotics operations.
The report indicates that Panama’s main priority should be 1) to approve the asset forfeiture law; 2) increase anti-corruption efforts to promote the rule of law and 3) maintain and increase their ability to defeat and deter drug trafficking.
In 2021 and 2022 Panama achieved record numbers in terms of seizures of illicit substances, managing to seize more than 128 tons of drugs.
