A judge has sentenced three citizens to lengthy prison terms for international drug trafficking. The 20-year-old was sentenced to 100 months in prison, while his two accomplices, aged 22 and 29, received 110 months each. An additional fine of 100 balboas was also imposed on them, payable to the National Treasury. The decision was made through sentence No. 651 of April 14, 2026, which determined the criminal liability of the accused. Previously, the guarantees judge legalized the apprehension and accepted the charge formulation, supported by the representative of the Public Ministry, Prosecutor Lisbeth Franco. The judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Panama, Kerine Jaén, validated a plea agreement and sentenced three citizens, aged 20, 22, and 29, to prison terms of 100 and 110 months as authors of the crime of international drug trafficking. The case originated after the suspects were apprehended by units of the National Aeronaval Service (SENAN) southeast of Punta Coco, in the Las Perlas Archipelago, where 1,048 packages of marijuana were seized. The accused were represented by public defenders María Rivas, César Augusto Quiñones, and Militza Pineda.
