According to the Public Ministry, the suspects are allegedly linked to crimes of cattle theft, criminal association, document forgery, and corruption of officials. More than 200 police units participated in the operations, intervening in over 23 points since the early hours of the morning. 'The apprehension of 16 people was achieved during the operation, to which four are added who were already detained for related cases, for a total of 20 linked to this investigation,' detailed Callender. Among the detainees are 18 men and 2 women, who will be presented before a guarantees judge in the coming hours. Panama - An extensive police operation shook the early morning of this Friday in the Azuero region, when authorities carried out the so-called 'Operation Vaquero', aimed at dismantling a presumed network dedicated to cattle theft. The action, coordinated between the Public Ministry and the National Police, left 20 people apprehended, including officials from the Agricultural Insurance Institute (ISA) and the municipalities of Las Tablas and Pesé. The operations took place in sectors such as Las Tablas, El Carate, and Peña Blanca, where people were detained who were allegedly part of a structure that stole cattle and used falsified documents to move it. According to Prosecutor Diana Callender, the investigation began in 2024 following multiple complaints from producers affected by cattle theft in the region. Investigations continue to determine if there are more people linked to the network and to clarify the participation of each of the detainees.
