According to the report, the illegal substances were hidden in 10 briefcases in a container carrying cars from the US en route through the Isthmus; and then it would go through Belgium with final destination in Lithuania.
The action was carried out by the public prosecutor’s office jointly with the National Directorate for Police Intelligence, the statement said.
Official statistics from the Ministry of Security (Minseg) show that from January to April this year, 32 tons of drugs, mostly cocaine, were seized in Panama.
According to this source, the eastern territory of Colón is the area with the highest number of incidents in the operations, which seized about 11 tons of narcotics there.
Next come the provinces of Panama (5.6 tons) and West Panama (5.1 tons) with the highest crime rates, in that order.
The Minseg added that in Laurentino Cortizo’s current term (2019-2024), 429.7 tons of illegal substances have been seized so far, accounting for 53.4 percent of all drugs seized under three previous governments (804.6 tons).
As a result of around 800 actions against organized crime during this period, more than $29 million was seized, property confiscated and financial institutions closed.
Local authorities have repeatedly warned that Panama’s privileged geographic location is being used as a bridge for medicines manufactured in South America, whose main destinations are the US and Europe.
Last year alone, 138.4 tons of drugs were seized on the isthmus, including 108.8 tons of cocaine.
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