Reporting on criminal incidents, investigations, and law enforcement responses across Panama. Stories focus on facts, community impact, and safety developments.
SENAFRONT detected an illegal mining camp at the headwaters of the Sábalo River in Darién and arrested four people during the operation. The case highlights ongoing enforcement challenges in one of Panama’s most remote provinces.
Anticorruption prosecutors inspected CSS offices as part of a SIPE fraud probe involving alleged manipulation of payroll and pension records. The case has already led to complaints, charges, and claims of irregularities totaling $230,000.
A 20-year-old man was detained in El Progreso, La Chorrera, in connection with the 2025 homicide of a Bomberos de Panamá member. Three other people have also been apprehended in the case.
Security forces dismantled an illegal mining camp in Darién province and detained four people during a joint operation near the Sábalo River. Authorities seized suspected gold, dredging equipment, and other items linked to illicit activity.
Second Sergeant Albis Espinoza will be laid to rest Thursday in Chitré after being killed during a police operation in El Chorrillo. Three people remain in custody in connection with the shooting.
Anti-corruption prosecutors resumed interviews with auditors in the unjustified-enrichment case against former vice president José Gabriel Carrizo. The proceedings follow a disruption last week that sparked a wider dispute involving the Comptroller’s Office and the National Assembly.
Panama’s neighborhoods are seeing a reshuffling of gang structures as older groups fade and new ones emerge, intensifying concern over rising homicides. The pattern has deepened worries about state presence and public safety in affected communities.
Residents of Barrio Colón in La Chorrera say abandoned houses are being used by criminals as hiding places to carry out robberies. The situation has raised concern about safety in the neighborhood.
A family in Margarita, Cristóbal, was robbed at gunpoint inside their home, prompting renewed calls for stronger police presence in Colón. Residents are urging authorities to increase patrols and improve neighborhood security.
Two dump trucks collided head-on on a road to Playa Blanca in Coclé, killing both drivers and seriously injuring a passenger. The crash adds to ongoing road safety concerns on Panama’s provincial highways.
Panama National Police have launched intensified operations in the capital after more than a dozen people were killed in a week. Several suspects have been detained as investigators examine possible links to the homicides.
Panamanian authorities seized more than 1,000 drug packages southeast of Punta Coco and arrested three people. The vessel used to move the shipment through the Pacific was also confiscated.
Authorities arrested a suspect in connection with the August 2025 killing of a Panama Fire Department member in Herrera, La Chorrera. The case has renewed attention on security and justice in Panamá Oeste.
Lawyers are disputing whether auditor findings tied to the Carrizo case can be challenged after controversy surrounding the Comptroller’s Office and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The debate now turns on whether the material will be admitted and weighed in court.
A police officer died in El Chorrillo after being shot during a gunfire incident, prompting a search for those responsible. The National Police offered condolences to the officer’s family.
A Panama National Police officer died after a shooting in El Chorrillo, Panama City, highlighting ongoing security concerns in the capital. The incident underscores the risks faced by officers in densely populated urban neighborhoods.
An Amber Alert has been issued in Colón for a 17-year-old student who remains missing after leaving to visit a friend in Los Lagos. Authorities are searching for his whereabouts.
Daniel Barrios’ family is demanding DNA testing after a body was found in Veracruz five days after his disappearance in La Chorrera. Relatives say the condition of the remains raises questions and want confirmation as soon as possible.
Three people were arrested in connection with the killing of a sergeant in El Chorrillo. The detainees are expected to face a custody hearing before homicide prosecutors.
A National Police sergeant died after an armed confrontation in El Chorrillo, Panama City, and police later captured a suspect known as “Yamir.” Another officer was injured in the same incident.