Panama maritime operation seizes 4,217 drug packages and arrests five suspects

Panama's National Aeronaval Service conducted two maritime interdictions in the Pacific within 24 hours, confiscating a total of 4,217 packages of suspected narcotics. The first action near Jicarón in Veraguas province, supported by the U.S. Coast Guard, resulted in the seizure of 1,790 packages and the arrest of three individuals. The second operation south of Punta Coco in the Pearl Islands captured 2,427 packages and detained two more suspects.

Authorities transferred the vessels, detainees and seized material to the Captain Frigate Noel A. Rodríguez J. Naval Base for further investigation. The service highlighted that, for 2026 so far, its 58 anti‑drugs operations have confiscated 39,045 packages, underscoring an ongoing effort against transnational narcotics trafficking.