Reporting on criminal incidents, investigations, and law enforcement responses across Panama. Stories focus on facts, community impact, and safety developments.
April was Panama’s deadliest month of 2026 so far, with 62 homicides nationwide and the sharpest impact in Alcalde Díaz and San Miguelito. Authorities link the rise to drug-trafficking disputes and say they are reinforcing policing in the hardest-hit areas.
The La Joyita prison massacre trial is detailing how a split inside the Bagdad gang led to a deadly internal attack that killed 13 inmates in 2019. Prosecutors are presenting forensic, witness and documentary evidence in a case expected to last for months.
David will introduce a targeted curfew around the Public Market next week as authorities respond to security concerns raised by school representatives. The measure will also regulate alcohol sales in the area.
Panamanian legal practice can treat fake drug packages and hidden compartments as part of narcotrafficking cases. The approach reflects the country’s role as a key transit route for illicit shipments.
Search groups in Jalisco uncovered a clandestine burial site in El Salto with dozens of bags of human remains and 21 skeletons. The discovery highlights Mexico’s worsening disappearance crisis ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Authorities in David, Chiriquí, will impose targeted curfews in specific zones and limit alcohol sales to help reduce crime. The move could become a model for other provinces if officials decide to expand it.
A coaster driver in Pedregal was sanctioned after running a red light and putting pedestrians at risk. The incident highlights ongoing traffic safety concerns in Panama City.
A boat sank off Puerto Caimito in Panama Oeste, leaving one person dead, two mariners missing and nine survivors. Authorities are conducting a coordinated search with naval teams and divers.
A court in Colón sentenced a man to 30 years in prison for killing the father of his former partner as he tried to protect her. The ruling also bars him from carrying or using firearms after his release.
Armed men kidnapped dozens of students in Nigeria’s Borno State in an attack that bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram. The raid highlights the continuing insecurity in northeast Nigeria and its wider regional impact.
Panama’s National Police say gang fragmentation is driving a rise in homicides, with 242 gang members arrested this year in 249 operations. Authorities say larger groups are expanding through alliances, recruitment and coastal drug routes.
Specialists in Panama are urging parents to talk with their children about the dangers of criminal life after recent killings of minors. The warning highlights growing concern over youth violence and possible links to criminal groups.
Panama’s Fire Department has sent its findings on the fatal explosion under the Bridge of the Americas to the Public Ministry. The case now moves into the prosecutorial phase after one person died in the blast.
Panama’s Public Ministry released this week’s official homicide figures as security agencies review possible motives behind the violence. The update comes amid continued attention on public safety and crime prevention.
A 21-year-old man was killed Friday in Costa Abajo de Colón, highlighting continuing security concerns in the province. The case adds to scrutiny of violence affecting communities in Colón.
A fatal motorcycle crash on Vía Centenario near Merca Panamá caused slow traffic Friday morning. The collision disrupted one of Panama City’s key urban routes.
Panamanian authorities confirmed a fifth false-drug shipment after forensic testing showed 583 kilos seized in Colón were not narcotics. The case adds to a growing pattern of fake cargo used to distract port security teams.
Panama’s Public Ministry is investigating the disappearance of Beyerson Palacios in Tocumen and is asking the public for any information that could help locate him. The case has prompted a community appeal as authorities continue the search.
Panamanian authorities and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Richard Werstine in Panama City after more than 30 years on the run in a Michigan murder case. He was found in Urracá Park, ending a long international manhunt.
Panama’s National Police say they have identified more than 120 gang groups operating in several provinces. The finding underscores the scale of organized street crime facing the country.
