What Happened
The National Police, together with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, carried out Operation Vaquero in the provinces of Los Santos and Herrera to dismantle a group allegedly linked to livestock theft. Authorities deployed 172 officers, executed 20 search warrants and arrested 19 people — 17 men and 2 women — all under arrest warrants issued by the competent judicial authorities. The operation was led by National Police Director General Jaime Fernández and Attorney General Luis Gómez.
Investigation and Scope
Operation Vaquero follows investigations that began in 2024 after numerous reports of livestock theft in the region. Prosecutors and investigators say they were able to link at least seven separate incidents of livestock theft to the individuals under investigation, which prompted the coordinated raids and arrests.
Institutions and Evidence
Police actions extended to three public institutions as investigators sought to gather evidence related to the alleged criminal activity: the Municipality of Pesé, the Municipality of Las Tablas and the Higher Agricultural Institute. Authorities describe the effort as an inter-institutional operation combining police and prosecutorial resources to build cases that can be taken before the courts.
What This Means
Livestock theft has been identified as a crime that affects Panama’s agricultural sector, and the scale of Operation Vaquero highlights a focused response from national authorities. By coordinating police forces and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, officials aim to disrupt criminal networks involved in thefts and to present suspects to the judicial system for possible prosecution. The operation underscores a broader effort to protect rural livelihoods and strengthen investigative follow-up on reports of agricultural crime.
Next Steps
Authorities have said the arrested individuals were sought under active warrants and were located and apprehended to be presented before judicial authorities. The investigations that produced the search warrants and arrests began in 2024; further judicial processes and evidence review will determine formal charges and next steps in each case.