Panamanian authorities have announced one of the country’s largest-ever cocaine seizures after intercepting a ferry carrying drugs bound for the United States.
Prosecutor Julio Villareal confirmed on Tuesday that approximately 12 tons (13.2 US tons) of cocaine were seized during a coordinated operation on Monday in the Pacific Ocean. Ten people were arrested in connection with the shipment.
“This is one of the biggest seizures in Panamanian waters to date,” Villareal said, adding that Venezuelan, Ecuadorian, and Nicaraguan nationals were among those detained. The ferry, officials noted, had departed from Colombia, a major hub for cocaine production.
Panama serves as a critical transit point for South American cocaine en route to the United States, the world’s largest market for the drug.
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According to official data, Panama seized a total of 119 metric tons of narcotics in 2023 alone. The latest bust comes as the United States expands its anti-drug military operations in Latin America, a campaign that has sparked regional tension.
Washington insists its increased naval presence is aimed at combating drug trafficking, but Venezuela and some other countries accuse the US of using the campaign as a cover for political interference, particularly against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
As regional governments highlight their efforts to curb drug trafficking, human rights groups have raised concerns that recent US-led strikes on suspected drug boats have resulted in at least 76 deaths in the Caribbean and Pacific regions this year.
