Rise in Violence in Panama: Police Fight Gangs and Prison Crimes

The director of the National Police, Jaime Fernández, acknowledged that in recent weeks there has been a surge in homicides in the country; however, he assures that so far this year they have had fewer homicides than last year. Fernández indicated that in Panama, more than 180 gangs operate, concentrated mainly in San Miguelito and in the province of Colón. These groups are currently seeking to recruit new people to join their ranks, which has led to an increase in the violence index. Fernández also revealed that authorities have detected that some homicides have been ordered by criminals from prisons, which is why the Police maintains operations known as “armageddons” inside the prisons, seizing a large number of cell phones. Another case is the finding of a person burned inside a vehicle in East Panama. Regarding the murder of a lawyer in Costa del Este, Fernández explained that they are trying to determine if the victim's vehicle was marked from a gym, although the investigative process is complex due to the fact that the woman had no criminal record. In a recent operation in Herrera and Los Santos, authorities captured more than 20 people allegedly linked to this illegal activity. Fernández referred to three recent cases that are under investigation. According to the director, vehicles have already been identified within the investigation. The police chief informed that in the last 10 days they have carried out seizures in houses, streets, and vehicles with double bottoms. He also highlighted that operations against micro-trafficking continue in different provinces. Fernández recognized that this jurisdiction represents a challenge in terms of security. He detailed that the car involved had been rented by a business, so authorities are reconstructing the vehicle's route to obtain more information that will help clarify the crime. As part of the strategies, he explained that they seek to reinforce police intelligence, continue with raids together with the Public Ministry, and make changes of police chiefs to “oxygenate” the areas and improve the operational dynamics. In areas such as Santa Ana, the Police maintains frequent verifications in homes, due to the presence of gangs that dispute territories on the streets. Only in Colón did they seize 1.3 tons of drugs that was carried out in a house used as a collection center. “It is not normal for a person who has already been rooted in Chitré for more than 20 years, dedicated to vehicle sales, to be executed in this way,” he emphasized on TVN Noticias. This is about the murder of an Indian merchant in Chitré, Herrera province.