The U.S. government has allocated more than $12 million in the last two years in support of security assistance for Panama, through the U.S. Embassy’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL), the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.
“The U.S. government support boosts the capabilities of our public forces in the fight against organized crime,” Severino Mejía, coordinator of Security Projects and Programs, attached to the Panamanian government, told Diálogo on April 23. “It is essential that the fight against transnational and domestic criminal organizations continue in conjunction between both nations.”
The aid includes technology, equipment, training, communications services, and infrastructure, among others, for the institutions of the Ministry of Public Security.
“Panama’s achievements in the fight against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime are impressive,” said U.S. Ambassador to Panama Mari Carmen Aponte. “These results speak to the professionalism and dedication of its security services and the benefits of its collaboration with the United States.”
Donations include projects such as the renovation of the checkpoint in Guabalá, Chiriquí province, bordering Costa Rica. Additional support included materials for the construction of Panama’s drug incinerator; the implementation of gang prevention programs, which have benefited some 140,000 people at risk; the refurbishment of buildings for security units; and significant assistance for the National Border Service (SENAFRONT) and the National Migration Service, La Estrella de Panamá reported.
This support allowed the Ministry of Public Security to improve its investigative capabilities to combat financial crimes, which was essential for Panama’s removal in October 2023 from the gray list of intergovernmental organization Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, Aponte said.
For his part, Panama’s President Laurentino Cortizo thanked the U.S. government for its spirit of cooperation and goodwill, a strategic and commercial partner throughout the history of the republic.
“Thanks to the cooperation in different areas, the security agencies increased their operational capacity,” said Panama’s Minister of Public Security Juan Pino. “We expanded activities to protect jurisdictional sectors against criminal organizations.”
With U.S. support, operations at Panama’s Regional Center for Aeronaval Operations, which has become a model of inter-institutional coordination in the region, increased, said Pino.
“U.S. support and the results obtained by Panama are tangible proof and clearly indicate that teamwork is fundamental,” Mejía added. “Not only did we achieve the planned goals, but we also mitigated the effects of violence and the resulting public health problems.”
On January 11, Pino and Aponte inaugurated the Border Protection Profiling and Analysis Unit, yet another project with U.S. support, to provide information on threats to border security in the region, especially terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and illicit trade, the Ministry said.
In just three months, this unit generated 1,148 security threat reports, including drug traffickers, murderers, document forgers, and alerts on pending cases, Panama Hoy reported.
The Biometric Data Sharing Program has profiled nearly 24,000 people, allowing authorities to arrest Interpol-wanted criminals. So far in 2024, the Joint Task Force against Money Laundering and Corruption, which both countries created in 2020, carried out 25 operations, 215 search procedures, apprehended 188 criminals, and seized more than $13 million, La Estrella de Panamá reported.
In addition, to help reinforce security on the borders with Costa Rica and Colombia in their fight against human and drug trafficking, the United States donated more than 60 military vehicles to Panama’s SENAFRONT and National Air and Naval Service. This equipment is also used in counter-terrorism operations in border zones and remote areas.
Panama’s security forces also recently strengthened their capabilities through a special boat crew members course and a survival at sea course for Panama’s Joint Maritime Force.
Panamanian authorities have highlighted the cooperation that exists between the United States and Panama especially in the security sector. “This has allowed Panama to strengthen its land and maritime security strategy, becoming one of the allies in the region with more capability to contain illicit trafficking of people and drugs and transnational criminal organizations,” Pino said.