Panamanian Authorities Investigate Vessel with 13.5 Tons of Drugs

Authorities have confirmed that the Public Ministry (MP) will initiate an investigation following the seizure of 13.5 tons of illicit substances found on a vessel that was once Panamanian-flagged and belonged to Pablo Torres, a former executive of the Maritime Chamber of Panama (CMP). "For now, there are no details of that information," the judicial source indicated after inquiries from Panama America. Regarding Torres's connection to the investigation, the MP stated that it cannot yet provide further details of the case. Meanwhile, Luis Alberto Roquebert, director of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), explained that the Oceanic Tug vessel, acquired in the United States, entered the Panamanian registry in 2022; however, two years later (2024) it was sold and transferred to the Tanzanian flag. The company also appears in the Public Registry of Panama with Torres as its president and stands out as one of the active members of Dolphin Tugs in the records of the business data platform Panadata. Torres, in a statement, denied any current connection to the vessel, claiming that the accusations against him are "fake news." He reiterated that after his departure, they had no authority to oversee him because its flag belongs to another country, but they will do what is necessary to ensure the Panamanian registry is not "tarnished" by this seizure. He stated that the issue has raised national and international alerts due to the amount of alleged drugs seized on the ship; therefore, it will be addressed with the necessary urgency through judicial channels. He maintains that the vessel was sold on March 22, 2023, complying with all corresponding legal formalities; however, the EFE news agency reported that it is his property through the company Dolphin Tugs. Additionally, in the listing of companies with active operating licenses from the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), updated as of October 30, 2025, he is listed as the legal representative of Dolphin Tugs Inc. "The ship requested a fuel license and was denied because it did not have the capabilities to conduct that type of business in national waters, it was detained in Amador for some time, and then the owners opted to take it out of the country," Roquebert stated. "The investigation is already underway, we are providing all the required information, we will provide what is needed," he emphasized. President José Raúl Mulino, during his press conference, stated that the Attorney General of the Nation, Luis Gómez Rudy, along with the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ) and the National Police, have begun the corresponding process. Subsequently, it returned to national waters to request a fuel supply license, but due to failing to meet the necessary requirements, the permit was denied, remaining docked in Amador until early October, when it left the country and was lost on radar.