The Ministry of Public Security has focused its efforts on maintaining Territorial Control through strategies aligned with the fight against drug trafficking, organized crime and common crime, managing to seize a total of 32 tons of drugs in the first four months of 2023, being Colón (11 tons), Panama (5.6 tons) and Panama Oeste (5.1 tons), the provinces with the most seizures of illegal substances.
The Minister of Public Security, Juan M. Pino pointed out that the intelligence work of the Public Force in coordination with the Public Ministry and the collaboration of national and international agencies, has allowed that, in the current administration, it has allowed the confiscation of 429.7 tons, which represents 53.4% of all the drugs seized, during three past administrations that make a total of (804.6) tons.
“In the Government Period 2014 to 2019, (261.7) tons were seized, representing 32.5% of the total amount of drugs seized. During the Government Period from 2009 to 2014, (113.1) tons were seized, representing 14% of the total drugs seized,” the minister reported.
Controlled purchase operations have also been superior with favorable results compared to other administrations. In the current administration, 2,276 operations increased by 17.8%, compared to the last two periods together. Similarly, Micro-trafficking operations from the Government Period 2014 to 2019 have carried out a total of 2,276 compared to the past administration where only 1,518 were carried out.
The Security Estates, during the administration of Pdte. of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, have carried out more than 800 judicialized operations against organized crime, managing to confiscate more than 29 million dollars and numerous seizures of properties and financial entities, indicated the head of Public Security.
“The crime of organized crime generates 70% of the intentional homicides in the country, mainly due to rivalries between gangs. In the current period we have apprehended 1,227 people for anti-gang operations,” he explained.
The firearms confiscation strategy has been effective and does not stop. During the current administration, 9,500 illegal weapons have been confiscated, surpassing any record from previous years, and more than 32,000 firearms have been destroyed during this administration.
Similarly, 470,000 munitions of different calibers have been destroyed. It is necessary to exalt the citizen participation, who have voluntarily handed over more than 1,351 weapons of different calibers through the “Pacifying My Neighborhood and Building the Future” program developed in the provinces of Panama, Colón, Veraguas, Coclé, Chiriquí and Panama Oeste; with an investment of $391,897.
