Panama - Some 20 Panamanian nationals, including 9 women, were arrested early Wednesday morning for their alleged connection to an organized crime network and illicit human trafficking. The suspects were apprehended during 'Operation Alborada,' which saw 23 search and raid warrants executed in the provinces of Panama, Darién, Coclé, and Chiriquí. The operation, led by the First Specialized Prosecutor's Office Against Organized Crime, the National Border Service (SENAFRONT), the National Migration Service, and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office of the U.S. Embassy, resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the seizure of three vehicles, seven packages of suspected illicit substances, and various documents for further investigation. Members of this network used clandestine routes to evade police controls through a carefully elaborated logistics system. Their modus operandi included renting vehicles to transport people, thus making it difficult to track their operations. SENAFRONT detailed that preliminary investigations established the organization had clearly defined roles: drivers for land transport, guides who directed people through irregular routes, facilitators who managed temporary lodging, and logistical collaborators responsible for coordinating resources and movements.
