Veracruz, Panama, implements preventive curfew due to crime

The Mayor of Arraiján, Stefany Peñalba, has decreed a preventive curfew in the Veracruz district of Panama West to combat rising crime rates. The measure is scheduled to run from October 1 to October 12, 2026, in coordination with the National Police and the local community board.

Under the new regulations, minors are prohibited from being in public between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM from Sunday to Thursday, and between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. For adults, the curfew applies from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM, Monday through Thursday, and from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Exceptions are granted to emergency personnel, public service workers, individuals traveling for work or education, and public transport users. The decision follows several weeks of increased insecurity involving shootings, robberies, and disputes linked to suspected micro-trafficking. Recent police operations in the area have included over 2,500 identity checks, 25 raids, and 27 checkpoints, resulting in several arrests.