Panama Seizes Drugs Hidden in Teak Wood

Panamanian authorities have seized 220 packages of drugs found inside teak wood trunks. On Tuesday, they highlighted that this is a new modality used by criminal organizations dedicated to drug trafficking. The type of drug and the total weight of the cargo were not specified by the authorities, but the packages usually weigh one kilogram, and the substance most trafficked through Panama is cocaine. Panama, a transit country for drugs produced in South America and destined for the United States, the world's largest consumer of cocaine, and Europe, seized around 80 tons of illicit substances in 2024, according to official data. The seizure took place during an operation conducted in an area of the Chepo district, in the province of Panama, where two Panamanian citizens allegedly linked to the cache were apprehended. "It should be noted that this discovery reveals a new modality used by criminal organizations dedicated to drug trafficking, which highlights the constant evolution of the methods employed by these criminal structures," the security body added. The National Border Service (Senafront) indicated that "the illicit substance was hidden inside four (4) logs of wood that had been previously modified, evidencing a sophisticated method of concealment to evade security controls."