Reporting on criminal incidents, investigations, and law enforcement responses across Panama. Stories focus on facts, community impact, and safety developments.
A bus overturned on a wooded road in Colón, killing two people and injuring more than 10 others. The nighttime crash caused panic among passengers as they tried to escape in the dark.
President José Raúl Mulino defended his security strategy as Panama confronts rising homicide concerns, linking much of the violence to gangs and narcotics. He also criticized a prison-related World Cup request and addressed the Canal Authority’s new leadership.
A 28-year-old man accused in the killing of Assistant Prosecutor Patricia Ossa has been charged with femicide and aggravated robbery and placed in provisional detention. The case raises broader concerns about violence against public officials and the justice system in Panama.
A Colón judge charged Ana Mae Judith Ceballos Rose, Alex Lee’s partner, in an alleged peculation case tied to Barrio Sur funds. The case is part of a wider anti-corruption drive involving dozens of former local officials across Panama.
Authorities are investigating two 2025 homicide cases in Pacora and 24 de Diciembre that share a similar pattern of detention before killing. Two suspects have been detained as prosecutors work to reconstruct what happened.
A judge ordered the provisional detention of Orlando Cuesta in the killing of prosecutor Patricia Ossa in Pueblo Nuevo. The case has intensified concern in Panama over domestic violence and firearm access.
Police and prosecutors dismantled a fraud ring in Panama that impersonated banks to trick users into transferring money. The case underscores the growing threat of financial scams built on trust and urgency.
The United States has charged Raúl Castro over the 1996 shootdown of two civilian planes that killed four exiles. The move revives a long-running case at the center of U.S.-Cuba tensions.
The United States has imposed sanctions on alleged Sinaloa cartel figures and related companies, targeting the financial side of the criminal network. The move underscores how anti-cartel efforts increasingly focus on money laundering and business fronts.
Police director Jaime Fernández said the attacker in the case involving fiscal Ossa is not part of Panama’s public security forces. He also outlined a broader security strategy centered on domestic violence, microtrafficking and anti-gang operations.
Mango founder Isak Andic’s death in a Montserrat hiking accident has turned into a homicide investigation, with his son Jonathan now under judicial scrutiny. The case has put one of Spain’s most influential retail families and its succession fight back in the spotlight.
Panama’s police chief says recent homicides are partly a backlash from major drug seizures, gang arrests and anti-narcotics operations. Authorities see a growing web of 121 gangs tied to larger criminal structures across several provinces.
Panama’s rising homicide figures have sharpened debate over whether the government is doing enough to confront gang violence and protect citizens. The killings are concentrated in several key districts and are affecting young people, officials and civilians alike.
Two separate shootings in San Miguelito and Panama City left two men dead as Panama’s homicide count continued to rise. The attacks also disrupted traffic on Ricardo J. Alfaro Avenue.
Panama’s debate over extinción de dominio is intensifying as regional cases highlight how asset forfeiture can weaken organized crime. The key question is whether Panama will adopt a model that protects due process while helping authorities recover illicit wealth.
Panama’s latest femicide case has brought new attention to the warning signs experts say often appear long before deadly violence. Authorities and specialists are urging families, coworkers, and neighbors to treat control, threats, and isolation as urgent danger signals.
Ecuador’s rescue of six minors from a trafficking network linked to a sect has renewed regional concern after a similar case in Colombia last year. The pattern highlights the cross-border risks of child exploitation and organized coercion.
Panama reported 10 femicides and nearly 5,000 domestic abuse complaints by May, underscoring the urgency of violence-prevention efforts. The Ministry of Women is urging victims to report abuse and seek legal and psychological support.
The FBI says two San Diego mosque shooters met online and left writings expressing hate, pointing investigators toward a possible extremist motive. The case highlights the growing role of online radicalization and hate-driven violence.
Authorities are investigating the killing of the representative of Veladero de Tolé in Chiriquí after an attack that also injured five family members. Investigators found nearly 70 shell casings at the scene, highlighting the force of the assault.