Panama Seizes 43 Tons of Drugs in 2026 Amidst Evolving Trafficking Methods

Panama continues to serve as a strategic transit point for drug trafficking, prompting authorities to bolster intelligence and profiling operations to intercept illicit substances.

Luis De Gracia, director of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan), revealed that the institution has seized around 43 tons of illegal drugs so far in 2026. Speaking during Senan's 18th-anniversary commemoration, De Gracia emphasized the critical role of information exchange and intelligence gathering in identifying and disrupting the movements of drug organizations, particularly in the Panamanian Pacific.

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We know that it has mostly occurred in the Pacific area.

Criminal groups are employing new tactics to evade detection, including the contamination of shipping containers. This method involves introducing narcotics into legitimate cargo destined for international markets via Panamanian ports. Despite these evolving strategies, De Gracia affirmed that authorities are actively working to identify and shut down any newly emerging routes used by traffickers.

Over its 18-year history, Senan has confiscated approximately one thousand tons of illicit substances. De Gracia attributed these successes to the collaborative efforts between operational units, intelligence teams, and inter-agency cooperation. The anniversary events showcased Senan's operational capabilities, including land, air, and sea demonstrations, alongside participation from other security agencies, underscoring the nation's ongoing commitment to combating drug trafficking and securing its airspace and waters.

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They continue to be the same routes, they try to open some, but we are also there to curtail the use of those routes.