Panama Unveils Extent of Official Participation in Drug Trafficking

Panamanian authorities, in coordination with the US Drug Enforcement Administration, conducted major anti-drug operations targeting major domestic syndicates like the Bagdad gang. The investigations revealed significant official complicity, uncovering instances where police officers alerted criminals to upcoming operations and provided physical security for illicit shipments. The findings demonstrate the operational hurdles faced by Panamanian law enforcement as transnational drug trafficking networks increasingly co-opt security forces.