Reporting on criminal incidents, investigations, and law enforcement responses across Panama. Stories focus on facts, community impact, and safety developments.
President José Raúl Mulino says Panama’s anti-violence strategy is being adjusted daily as the country faces a rise in homicides. By February 2026, 77 homicides had been recorded nationwide, making violence a major public security concern.
Residents of Calle 11 y media in Río Abajo say a deadly shooting has left them afraid to keep selling food and supporting their families. The incident has shaken both safety and livelihoods in the neighborhood.
Police in Vacamonte, Arraiján seized more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition and five grenades. The materials were secured and handed over to the authorities for legal proceedings.
A 7-year-old girl reported missing in La Villa de Los Santos was found this morning after an Amber Alert was issued. Her family had searched for hours since late yesterday afternoon.
Panama’s Social Security Fund uncovered alleged payroll fraud involving fake child support deductions used to pay a furniture store and filed a criminal complaint. The case raises fresh concerns about internal controls in a key public institution.
A shooting in Río Abajo left two people dead and two injured, adding to ongoing concern over violence in the Panama City neighborhood.
Police in Río Abajo found an abandoned infant in a flooded room inside a barracks and transferred the case to child protection authorities. The response centered on protecting the child’s safety and integrity.
Police in Vacamonte seized 5,330 rounds of ammunition and five grenades after a citizen alert led officers to an abandoned structure in Arraiján. Authorities say the cache included military-grade rounds and is the largest ammunition seizure of the year.
Police in Vacamonte, Arraiján, uncovered a hidden cache with more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition and grenades. The seizure highlights ongoing efforts to curb illegal weapons in Panamá Oeste.
Access has been restricted in La Boca after an explosion near the Bridge of the Americas sparked a criminal investigation. President José Raúl Mulino confirmed authorities are also evaluating old tanks in the area.
A court in Panama revoked house arrest for the representative of David and ordered him jailed while he faces an aggravated embezzlement case involving more than $4.4 million. The ruling intensifies a high-profile legal process tied to alleged misuse of public funds.
A Chiriquí appeals court revoked house arrest for David representative Jorge Eduardo Montenegro Vallarino and ordered him back to prison in a corruption case tied to decentralization funds. The same probe also involves former community board treasurer Emgelberth Geovanny Estrada Linares.
Seven-year-old Javierys Hurtado was found in Chitré after an Amber Alert triggered a heightened search response. The case underscores the urgency of rapid child protection protocols in Panama.
Panama’s CSS filed criminal complaints after detecting alleged pension simulations used to divert payroll money. The institution also imposed disciplinary measures on those involved.
Authorities in Panama activated an Amber Alert for 7-year-old Javierys Hurtado, who was last seen in Chitré, Herrera. The search has been intensified as officials appeal for public help.
Police in La Chorrera arrested a woman accused of using forged documents to help people obtain bank loans in a financial fraud scheme. Three other people have also been charged in the case.
A truck explosion on Panama’s Bridge of the Americas killed one person and forced authorities to close the crossing while they assess possible damage. The bridge is a vital route over the Panama Canal linking the capital with western Panama.
Several violent incidents have been reported across Panama City neighborhoods in early April, including Río Abajo, Santa Ana, Calidonia, Pedregal and Cerro Viento. The pattern suggests a broader spread of criminal violence in the capital.
A deadly explosion near a bridge linked to the Panama Canal has raised fresh security concerns around one of the country’s most critical assets. The blast underscores the vulnerability of key infrastructure in Panama.
A man linked to a drug seizure case was arrested at Tocumen International Airport after evading Panamanian justice in 2025. The case involves narcotics hidden in a double floor of a vehicle.