In his report, he cited these lines: "the tugboat where the stash was found, named Oceanic Tug, is the property of the company Dolphin Tugs, which belongs to Pablo Torres, an executive of the Maritime Chamber of Panama". Furthermore, in the list of companies with valid operating licenses from the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), updated as of October 30, 2025, Pablo Torres is listed as the legal representative of Dolphin Tugs Inc.
Under the previous government, during Noriel Araúz's administration at the AMP, his closeness was questioned, which would have allowed him to secure multiple businesses in the maritime world, including fuel supply, one of his specialties.
As recently as September 2025, the Oceanic Tug, the vessel linked to Pablo Torres, returned to Panama to apply to the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) for a fuel supply license. The business expansion was denied because the vessel did not have the capacity and qualifications required by the AMP.
This is the same vessel that, less than two months after that request, was transporting a large shipment of cocaine, which was seized by authorities.
Torres denies any such ties and states that he sold this boat in 2023. However, maritime records continue to maintain this link. Records from the business data platform Panadata also indicate that Pablo Torres is an active member of Dolphin Tugs.
Luis Roquebert, administrator of the AMP, stated that after the license was denied, the vessel was anchored in Amador until its owners decided to remove it from the country because the fuel supply deal did not materialize. It then sailed to Colombia.
The case has crossed borders after the Spanish agency EFE reported the story first covered by national media. And although Torres claims the data is outdated, the fact is that this information has remained unchanged for over two years.
