Reporting on criminal incidents, investigations, and law enforcement responses across Panama. Stories focus on facts, community impact, and safety developments.
Panama’s Public Ministry is investigating the killing of prosecutor Patricia Ossa in Pueblo Nuevo as a suspected femicide. Authorities say the main suspect had a romantic relationship with the victim.
Panamanian prosecutor Patricia Ossa was shot and killed in Pueblo Nuevo on Monday night, and one person has been detained as investigators begin their work. The case is drawing attention because it targets a Public Ministry official assigned to homicide and femicide investigations.
A man accused in the E-Tax 2.0 case has been ordered held in provisional detention over an alleged fraud that prosecutors say cost Panama’s tax authority more than $500,000. The investigation, which began in 2023, already has seven people charged.
A 73-year-old U.S. citizen was detained in Puerto Armuelles, Chiriquí, and placed in provisional detention as Panama prepares for a possible extradition request from Oklahoma. He is wanted over alleged money laundering and foreign corruption offenses linked to bribes in Panama and Mexico.
Family and friends in Colón bid farewell to a 14-year-old basketball player and Colegio Abel Bravo student killed in the province. The case has renewed concern over violence affecting young people in Panama.
Customs officers in Chiriquí seized counterfeit Panama national team jerseys in the latest crackdown on fake merchandise. The case highlights the continuing market for illicit sports apparel and its impact on legitimate sellers.
Aaron Mizrachi is set for trial on June 3 in Panama’s Odebrecht money-laundering case after the Supreme Court reinstated him into the proceedings. Prosecutors say his company handled funds tied to Odebrecht’s secret payments network.
Security cameras in La Chorrera captured a man entering a home with a sheet over his head and face, sparking concern over burglary and neighborhood safety. The case highlights growing security challenges in Panama Oeste’s expanding residential areas.
SENAFRONT apprehended a man in Darién after a domestic violence case escalated into machete threats against police units. The incident underscores the security and safety challenges authorities face in Panama’s remote eastern province.
Ten people, including a child, were killed in an armed attack on a home in Puebla, Mexico, prompting a major security operation. Authorities have opened an investigation and are searching for the gunmen.
A jury is hearing evidence on the 2019 La Joyita prison massacre, where a Bagdad gang split triggered a shootout that killed 15 inmates. The case highlights Panama’s wider prison security and organized crime problem.
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.