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Panama Police to Build New Anti-Drug Base in Vacamonte to Boost Pacific Coast Surveillance
🇵🇦 Panama /Crime & Justice

Panama Police to Build New Anti-Drug Base in Vacamonte to Boost Pacific Coast Surveillance

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Panama's National Police will build a new anti-drug operations base in Vacamonte, Panama Oeste, to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking.
  • The new facility, located near the Vacamonte pier, is expected to be operational within approximately 18 months.
  • Authorities are also acquiring six new vessels to enhance maritime surveillance along the Pacific coast, targeting drug smuggling routes.

Panama's National Police announced plans to construct a new headquarters for its Tactical Anti-Drug Operations Unit in Vacamonte, located in Panama Oeste. This strategic move is part of a broader initiative to intensify the battle against drug trafficking and monitor the routes used to transport narcotics along the Pacific coastline.

In the moment we are in the Bique area. As a result of a relationship with a private company, we have been able to obtain the provision of this land, which will be the new headquarters of the Anti-Drug Unit.

— Jaime FernándezDirector of the National Police, explaining the acquisition of land for the new anti-drug base.

The new facility will be situated near the Vacamonte pier, in the Bique area. Police Director Jaime Fernández explained that the land for the base was secured through a partnership with a private company. He indicated that primary adaptations for the facility's operation are expected to be completed within approximately 18 months, allowing the unit to commence operations from this new strategic point.

Fernández stated that the location is crucial for enhancing the response to vessels approaching Panama's shores for drug-related activities. The police are also bolstering their maritime capabilities by acquiring six new vessels. These boats will be deployed to reinforce surveillance along the Pacific coast, covering areas such as Farallón, Pacora, Chiriquí, and Colón, with the aim of detecting suspicious movements and intercepting potential drug trafficking operations.

In these operations, we deploy by land, sea, and even with air elements and subaquatic units, frogmen.

— Henry MollMember of the Tactical Anti-Drug Operations Unit, describing the scope of anti-drug operations.

Authorities acknowledge the evolving tactics of criminal organizations, which constantly adapt their methods and routes to evade detection. In response, the police are committed to continuously updating their strategies. Henry Moll of the Tactical Anti-Drug Operations Unit highlighted that these operations require a coordinated deployment across land, sea, and air, incorporating specialized units like frogmen for subaquatic missions. He emphasized the need for increasingly sophisticated approaches to counter the ingenuity of drug trafficking organizations.

The tactics are increasingly advancing, they are more ingenious, which makes us seek to be more sophisticated.

— Henry MollMember of the Tactical Anti-Drug Operations Unit, explaining the need for advanced police strategies.
About this summary

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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