Families Protest Ban on Supplies at La Joyita Prison After Security Raids

Families of inmates at Panama's La Joyita prison are protesting a ban on food and essential item deliveries, implemented after recent security operations within the facility.

Crowd control agents deployed tear gas against relatives gathered outside the La Joya and La Joyita penitentiary complex. The protest erupted due to the suspension of "valores" – food, clothing, and hygiene items – without prior notification. The restriction followed intensive searches on Saturday and Sunday, during which authorities seized firearms, thousands of cell phones, satellite antennas, video game consoles, and other prohibited items.

The National Penitentiary System stated that the measure was announced and that operations are ongoing. They indicated that normal visits and deliveries would resume once authorities regain full control. However, families insist they received no warning about the suspension. They also reported that during the searches, inmates had their mattresses, clothing, and footwear confiscated, leaving them with only the clothes they were wearing.

"They are in shorts, without sweaters, without shoes. They are human beings," one mother stated. Other relatives are demanding clarity on when they can resume bringing basic necessities to the inmates. The situation has led to a significant security presence, with additional National Border Service units deployed, causing traffic disruptions on the access road. This incident follows a mass escape from La Joyita just over a week prior, which intensified security measures within the national prison system.

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They are in shorts, without sweaters, without shoes. They are human beings.