Panama Seizes Over 1,500 Drug Packages, Arrests Six

Panamanian authorities have intercepted a significant quantity of illicit drugs during a maritime operation. The National Aeronaval Service (Senan) seized 1,567 packages of suspected illegal substances and apprehended six individuals aboard a fishing vessel near Punta Coco.

Agents detected irregularities in the boat's structure, leading them to discover a hidden compartment. The vessel and its crew were subsequently brought to a naval base, where the drugs were found concealed within 52 sacks. This operation is part of Senan's ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime.

In a separate incident in the western Pacific, authorities seized an additional 2,313 packages of suspected illicit substances near Punta Burica in the Chiriquí province. This operation, named "Escudo Protector" (Protective Shield), also resulted in the arrest of three people and the seizure of a speedboat believed to be used for transporting the drugs. To date in 2026, the Aeronaval Service has confiscated over 48,649 packages of illicit substances across 81 operations.