Panama Security Minister Frank Ábrego denies Clan del Golfo presence

Panama's Minister of Public Security, Frank Ábrego, said on 26 July 2026 that there is no evidence of the Colombian criminal group Clan del Golfo operating in Panama. He noted that Panama has not received any official intelligence reports about the group's alleged displacement to the country and that authorities continue direct communication with Colombian security agencies, AmeriPol and the binational border commission. Ábrego mentioned that while the Colombian magazine Semana and Colombia's president‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella have suggested Clan members might be fleeing to Panama, any such information is still being validated. He added that Panama is monitoring Colombian‑origin bank transactions in cooperation with the Financial Analysis Unit and the Superintendency of Banks, and that security measures along the Darién frontier will be strengthened starting 10 August.