Panama seizes 500 automatic rifles and ammunition falsely declared as blank-firing weapons

Panamanian authorities have intercepted a significant cache of weapons, seizing 500 automatic rifles and associated parts at the cargo area of Tocumen International Airport. The discovery was made during a joint operation involving security forces and the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The arsenal, which also included 400 barrels, 25 handguards, and screws for firearm assembly, arrived from Turkey. Official documentation falsely declared the shipment as blank-firing weapons. However, a technical verification by the Institutional Directorate for Public Security Affairs (DIASP) confirmed that the rifles were equipped with mechanisms for real automatic firing.

These weapons featured a three-position selector switch, allowing for safe, semi-automatic, and fully automatic firing modes. The seizure highlights concerns about the illicit arms trade and the methods used to circumvent customs and security regulations.

As of the report, no arrests have been made in connection with the weapons seizure. Authorities have not yet specified whether the cargo was intended for deposit within Panama or was in transit to another destination. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges in controlling the flow of illegal arms through international transit hubs.

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The shipment from Turkey had been declared in the shipping documents as blank-firing weapons, but a technical verification... determined that the rifles maintained mechanisms corresponding to real automatic weapons, with a three-position selector: safe, semi-automatic, and automatic.