A guarantees judge ordered the preventive detention of eight people, house arrest for two others, and periodic reporting measures for ten more. They are charged with human trafficking and organized crime after being apprehended in the Operation Dawn operation. Judge Francisco Carpintero, in a hearing held at the Accusatory Penal System of Plaza Ágora, charged the 20 defendants, considering that the Public Prosecutor's Office presented evidence linking them to a criminal network dedicated to human trafficking, which was introduced into the national territory illegally. On March 25, the First Specialized Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime, in conjunction with the National Border Service (Senafront) and the National Police, conducted 23 search warrants in the provinces of Panama, Darién, Coclé, and Chiriquí, where they located a group of people linked to human trafficking. During the operations, authorities seized three vehicles, drugs, and other evidence related to the investigation, which was developed for several weeks. According to the investigations, each member of the criminal network had a specific function: some were in charge of transportation, others looked for accommodation facilities, and others were dedicated to establishing routes to evade police checkpoints. Authorities are investigating the possible involvement of other individuals who collaborated with this criminal organization, so new apprehensions are not ruled out.
