US provides $174 million to Panama to boost anti-drug trafficking efforts

Panama's President José Raúl Mulino announced that the United States has allocated $174 million over the past 18 months to bolster the technological and logistical capacity of Panama's security agencies. This significant contribution is part of broader agreements between the two nations aimed at combating illicit activities.

Mulino revealed the figure during his participation in the Coalition Against America's Cartels Forum, an initiative comprising 20 countries dedicated to enhancing cooperation and advancing joint operations against drug trafficking and organized crime. During the forum, Mulino also met with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to discuss regional actions against criminal organizations.

The president stated that the U.S. cooperation has facilitated the acquisition of essential resources for Panamanian forces, including boats, vehicles, scanners, and communication equipment. He expressed gratitude to the U.S. Ambassador to Panama, Kevin Cabrera, for his efforts in expediting the delivery of equipment and the implementation of agreed-upon actions.

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In the last 18 months, through the agreements reached with the United States, this country has intervened in our budget with 174 million dollars to increase the technological and logistical capacity of our forces.

Mulino underscored the threat that drug trafficking and organized crime pose to national sovereignty, describing it as a "cancer" that permeates society. He advocated for collaborative efforts with countries like Colombia, El Salvador, the United States, and the Dominican Republic, emphasizing that such alliances must respect national sovereignty and territories. He noted that seven out of ten Panamanians support this strategy.

Panama's strategic geographic location, extensive coastline, and the operation of the Panama Canal make it a crucial point for both global trade and criminal organizations. Mulino warned that a portion of the drugs transiting through Panama remains in the country, fueling gang activity and street-level drug sales, which in turn generate resources for illicit operations.

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What represents a clear threat to national sovereignty is drug trafficking, it is that cancer that branches out throughout society, taking drugs to schools and, while filling pockets, traffickers damage the lives of the children and grandchildren of our homelands.