Panama's Aeronaval Service Seizes 571 Drug Packages in Pacific

Panama's Servicio Nacional Aeronaval (Senan) seized 571 packages of suspected illicit substance during an operation south of Punta Coco in the Archipiélago de las Perlas, part of the Pacific coast. Three crew members on the fishing vessel were arrested and turned over to the national drug prosecutor's office for custody and charging.

The seizure occurred under Operation Escudo Protector, a broader effort to tighten surveillance of Panama’s maritime jurisdiction. Senan reported that the 2026 total of confiscated drug packages now stands at 40,472, accumulated through 64 operations across the country. Authorities indicated the packages likely contain cocaína, with each package typically weighing about one kilogram. The operation follows a May 2026 seizure of 1,096 packages near the Costa Rica border.

Panamanian officials said the continued air, sea, and land patrols aim to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent narcotics from reaching local communities.