The Public Prosecutor's Office of Panama sounded the alarm after launching investigations into crimes against minors, commercial sexual exploitation, and other conduct under articles 179, 184, and 187 of the Penal Code, following incidents recorded in various parts of the country during Carnival.
The investigations were triggered by formal complaints and the circulation of sexually explicit videos on social media and digital platforms. The Metropolitan Prosecutor's Office is analyzing cases involving both minors and adult women who are believed to have been sexually exploited, with the firm aim of bringing the perpetrators to justice and protecting the victims, preventing their revictimization.
One of the most talked-about episodes occurred in Caimitillo, North Panama, where a contest for a case of beer ended in an exhibition in front of the public, captured on video and widely shared on social networks.
What began as a Carnival competition turned into an out-of-control spectacle, highlighting the lack of supervision and the risks associated with these celebrations. The Carnival may be over, but the investigation is just beginning.
