Panamanian authorities reported this Thursday the seizure of 2,851 drug packages during a patrol on the Pacific coast of Panama and the capture of two Colombian citizens. According to official information, the operation, commanded by units of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan), took place in the Quebrada de Piedra area of the western province of Chiriquí, where a vessel with evasive maneuvers was detected, prompting the intervention of the authorities. As a result of the operation, two Colombian citizens were detained and are now in the hands of the corresponding judicial authorities. The authorities did not specify the type of drug seized or the total weight of the cargo. However, generally speaking, the packages of illicit substances seized in this type of operation usually weigh approximately one kilogram each, with cocaine being the most trafficked drug through maritime routes passing through Panama. Last Sunday, Senan seized over three tons of drugs hidden in a container located at a pier on Panama's Caribbean coast, which demonstrates the persistence of drug trafficking networks that use various methods for the transport of narcotics. Panama continues to be a transit country for drugs produced in South America, destined mainly for the United States — the world's largest consumer of cocaine — and for Europe. According to official data, during the year 2024, Panamanian authorities seized around 80 tons of illicit substances as part of efforts to combat drug trafficking.
