Operation 'Barú Shield' in Panama prison yields cell phones, routers, suspected drugs

Panamanian authorities have carried out Operation 'Barú Shield' at the Chiriquí Penitentiary Center in David, Chiriquí province, as part of investigations into various criminal activities recorded in 2026.

The operation, a joint effort by the Attorney General's Office's Regional Prosecutor's Office of Chiriquí and the National Border Service (Senafront), involved searches and inspections of 24 cells in one of the prison's pavilions. During the searches, authorities discovered technological equipment, including cell phones and routers, along with other mobile devices, suspected illicit substances, and written materials.

These seized items will undergo analysis to ascertain their potential link to ongoing investigations conducted by different sections of the Regional Prosecutor's Office of Chiriquí. These investigations cover offenses such as homicide, theft, and other punishable acts. The criminal cases associated with these seizures pertain to incidents that occurred within the current year in the districts of Barú and David.

Officials stated that investigations will continue to establish any possible connection between the confiscated items and the various cases under judicial review. The operation is part of broader efforts to combat criminal activity within correctional facilities and its ties to external criminal networks.