In the second phase of the “Fisher” operation, the security authorities and the Public Ministry reported this Wednesday that after 18 raids they apprehended 14 people, including 3 officials.
The search proceedings were carried out in Colón, Panama Centro, Panama East and Panama West and the 14 detainees are allegedly linked to the Clan del Golfo, a criminal structure dedicated to drug trafficking.
Commissioner Carlos Valencia, from the National Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ), explained that among those apprehended there is an official from the National Assembly, one from the Panama Maritime Authority and a worker from the Panama Metro.
He added that in the sector of La Cresta de Colón the sum of 10,000 dollars was seized, while a residence in Condado del Rey seized a firearm and 2,460 ammunition of different calibers.
In addition, two of the raids were carried out on companies dedicated to car rental in the capital city, leading to the capture of Hindustanis.
Earlier, the Public Ministry reported that in the development of this second phase of the “Fisher” operation, a residence in Hato Pintado was raided.
According to the first reports, this raid was carried out with the aim of locating “indications” of the criminal network dedicated to drug trafficking, which was dismantled last December in the first phase of “Fisher”.
On December 9, 2020, the guarantee judge Teodolinda Cardoze ordered the preventive detention of 51 of the 56 accused of crimes of illicit association and money laundering.
On that occasion, it was reported that nine officials were apprehended in the operation, of which five were linked to the security forces.
The group of 56 people is accused of being part of a criminal organization linked to the Clan del Golfo, whose base is in Colombia.
One of the defendants, Xavier Bartuano, agreed to a sentence of 68 months in prison for the crime of illicit association.
Prosecutor Joseph Díaz assured that the aforementioned criminal organization was responsible for most of the drugs that reach the Panamanian coast.
