Reporting on criminal incidents, investigations, and law enforcement responses across Panama. Stories focus on facts, community impact, and safety developments.
Former Colón mayor Alex Lee has been detained again in a peculado case that also involves a substitute representative for Barrio Norte and two other officials. The arrests put renewed attention on corruption and accountability in one of Panama’s key provinces.
Bella Vista, San Francisco and Betania in Panama City lead vehicle theft and robbery complaints, followed by Chiriquí and Panamá Oeste. The pattern highlights how auto crime is concentrated in both the capital and other growing provinces.
Authorities detained the corregimiento representatives of Barrio Norte and Barrio Sur in Colón during a search operation tied to an investigation. Prosecutors also found evidence at their residences.
An inmate altercation at La Joya prison in Panama led to the seizure of eight firearms and the arrest of an alleged perpetrator. One death was also reported in the incident.
The main suspect in the 1994 Alas Chiricanas flight 901 bombing has arrived in Panama after extradition from Venezuela. The case, which killed 20 people, is now moving toward long-delayed accountability.
Panama police have deployed special operations units to guard a suspect tied to the Alas Chiricanas bombing case. The security move highlights the continuing sensitivity of one of the country’s most serious aviation attacks.
Thirteen puppies are being trained to join Panama’s National Police canine unit and support work against crime. The effort highlights the role of specialized police dogs in public security operations.
The National Police are training 13 puppies to become part of Panama’s next canine unit. The dogs are being prepared to support law enforcement work against crime.
Panama brought together security agencies, local governments and international experts for the seventh International Congress on Criminality. The talks centered on strategies to confront organized crime, drug trafficking and gangs.
Panama’s Penitentiary System suspended in-person visits at La Joya, La Joyita and La Nueva Joya through April 27 after a security incident left one inmate dead. Authorities said they activated protocols, carried out inspections and will reschedule family visits.
A violent altercation between inmates in La Joya prison on April 21 left one person dead. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges inside Panama’s penitentiary system.
Visits at La Joya prison were suspended after a shooting killed one inmate. Authorities are carrying out operations to find the firearm used in the attack.
A second man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of a taxi driver in Hato Pilón, Mironó, following a March 2024 attack in the Ngäbe Buglé comarca. The case highlights the violent nature of the crime and its impact on the local community.
Panama National Police recovered six vehicles in Panama Oeste that were under active reports for robbery, theft, and unlawful appropriation. The seizure highlights ongoing enforcement against vehicle-related crime in the province.
A judge in San Miguelito ordered provisional detention for a man charged with aggravated intentional homicide after legalizing his arrest. The case now moves forward through Panama’s criminal process.
A 14-year-old was injured in a shooting in Puerto Escondido, Colón, highlighting ongoing security concerns in the province. The case has renewed alarm over the danger gun violence poses to minors and nearby residents.
A shooting at Mexico’s Teotihuacan pyramids left a Canadian woman dead and at least 13 injured, with authorities saying the gunman carried materials linked to Columbine. The attack has raised new concerns about tourist-site security and the international reach of mass-violence symbols.
Alí Jalil arrived in Panama extradited from Venezuela and was placed under heavy security custody in the Alas Chiricanas case. His transfer to the DIJ marks a new stage in the long-running investigation.
Panama’s Aeronaval Service seized 650 packages of drugs in the Las Perlas archipelago and arrested three men aboard a vessel. The operation adds to a year in which authorities say they have confiscated 23.7 tons of illicit substances.
Panama’s National Police said the suspect in the Alas Chiricanas flight attack case is under special forces surveillance while the Public Ministry handles the process. The case remains tied to one of the country’s most serious aviation security investigations.