Panamanian authorities seized approximately 12 tons of cocaine on a ferry in the Pacific Ocean. This operation occurred on Monday. Officials said the drugs were bound for the United States.
The haul was announced by prosecutor Julio Villareal, who described it as one of the largest in Panamanian waters. The cocaine weighed about 13.2 US tons.
Arrests and Nationalities Involved
During the raid, authorities arrested 10 people. Those detained included Venezuelans, Ecuadorans, and Nicaraguans.
The ferry had also left Colombia, carrying drugs en route to the US market. Panama is an important transit point for this trade.
Broader Anti-Drug Context
This seizure is part of ongoing efforts against narcotics trafficking. In 2023, Panama seized a total of 119 metric tons of drugs.
Meanwhile the United States increases military deployments in Latin America to combat drugs. Yet such actions are raising concerns.
U.S. attacks on suspected drug boats killed at least 76 in the Caribbean and Pacific. Latin American nations are highlighting their anti-narcotics efforts amid tensions over U.S. interdiction policies.
Implications for Regional Security
Venezuela sees US efforts as a potential ploy to remove President Nicolas Maduro. Moreover the US is still the largest consumer of cocaine in the world. Such operations disrupt supply chains from South America. In summary, this intercept underlines the challenges in fighting global drug trade.
