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Panama Seizes Over 5 Tons of Drugs in Boat Chase

Published January 18, 2026, 07:14
Panama Seizes Over 5 Tons of Drugs in Boat Chase

Panamanian police have seized over 5 tons of drugs from a boat that ran aground on a beach following a chase. Panama is a major entry point for cocaine into Central America, primarily originating from Colombia. Since 2023, authorities have confiscated over 360 tons of narcotics, including a record seizure of 13.5 tons last year. The recent seizure occurred in Playa Bongó, on Isla del Rey, after a pursuit of a vessel that crashed into rocks. Suspected drug traffickers abandoned 5,356 packages of narcotics, with the type of drug yet to be confirmed but believed to be cocaine. Panama's Minister of Security described 2023 as a particularly difficult year due to increased drug production in the region and a rise in seizures at Panamanian ports destined for Europe.