Panama is holding a program to exchange weapons and ammunition for essential goods. The primary goal of the initiative is to reduce the circulation of armed equipment on the country's streets. As part of the program, residents can surrender weapons in exchange for vouchers for food, medicine, and household appliances. The program is being implemented in key districts, including San Miguelito, East Panama, Colón, and West Panama. Upon surrender, weapons are immediately disabled by cutting the barrels and slides or breaking revolvers in half. This ensures the complete destruction of the collected armaments. The Governor of the Panama Province, Mayín Correa, called on residents of the capital and the western part of the province to participate in the initiative. She noted that specialists are on-site to properly assess the value of the surrendered weapons, regardless of their condition. Juan Antonio Herrera, director of the Department of Institutional Affairs for Public Security, called the strategy a crucial step in removing weapons from public spaces, especially illegal ones.
