Operation Nodriza took an unexpected turn this Tuesday when authorities confirmed that among the eight detainees is César Caicedo, the father of Dayra Caicedo, the young woman who was kidnapped in February of this year in Vista Alegre, Arraiján, and reappeared weeks later at a gas station in Burunga. The information was corroborated by sources from the Public Ministry, which detailed that Caicedo is pointed to as part of the group that allegedly moved drug shipments by land and sea in Panama and West Panama. Prosecutor Julio Villarreal explained that the operation, which began on March 7, 2023, integrates seven different cases, whose independent investigations were connected to form a criminal structure that, according to the proceedings, maintained ties between Panamanians and Colombians. In total, Operation Nodriza has accumulated more than two tons of seized cocaine, 10 verified vehicles (three with double bottoms), three secured vessels, four firearms, and 26 raids carried out in the last few hours. The eight new detainees, five Panamanians and three Colombians, were handed over to the Judicial Branch on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities emphasize that the number of apprehended in the entire investigation now sums up to 20. The inclusion of César Caicedo, whose surname jumped into public opinion following his daughter's kidnapping, adds an unexpected element to the case and reopens questions about possible links between drug trafficking networks and recent violent events in Arraiján. The Public Ministry and the National Police reiterated that the operation remains open and do not rule out new arrests in the coming days.
