Reporting on criminal incidents, investigations, and law enforcement responses across Panama. Stories focus on facts, community impact, and safety developments.
A four-vehicle crash in Natá, Coclé injured 12 people and triggered a hospital response after two buses and a van collided while heading toward Panama City. One lane was opened to keep traffic moving.
A dialysis patient had his truck stolen from the parking lot of Panama’s Social Security hospital complex while he was undergoing treatment. The damaged security cameras meant the theft was not captured on video.
A Panamanian court has set an April 29 hearing for 15 complainants in the long-running illegal phone tapping case against former National Security Council officials Roony Rodríguez and William Pittí. The pair surrendered after more than 10 years as fugitives and now face additional charges tied to the missing surveillance equipment.
A student was hospitalized after a fight outside a school in Panama Oeste, renewing concerns about repeated clashes at dismissal time. Parents and staff say these incidents often happen beyond the school perimeter, where supervision is harder.
A four-vehicle crash on the Pan-American Highway in Natá, Coclé, injured 12 people and sent them to hospital. One lane toward Panama City was opened as traffic built up during Holy Week travel.
Police stopped an attempt to move about 40 kilograms of drugs into La Joya through a dry ravine being used as a hidden trafficking route. It was the second recorded attempt in the same area.
Three people were convicted for gang-related activity tied to multiple crimes in San Miguelito. The case involved members of the gang known as “La Tropi.”
Traffic accidents and pedestrian hit-and-runs continue to affect several parts of Panama, including San Miguelito and David. The incidents highlight ongoing road safety concerns in busy urban areas.
The Social Security Administration confirmed there were no cameras where a patient’s vehicle was stolen outside a medical center on Transístmica. The case has raised questions about security around public health facilities in Panama City.
Cleanup crews worked at the Tocumen police station after disturbances and vandalism left several areas damaged. The incident highlighted the impact unrest can have on public security facilities in one of Panama’s busiest districts.
A disturbance involving teenagers damaged the Tocumen police post, leading Senniaf to carry out cleanup work and coordinate next steps with security authorities.
A 54-year-old hemodialysis patient says his silver-gray pickup was stolen from the CSS hospital parking lot in Panama City while he traveled from Chepo for treatment. The vehicle carries plate 304741.
Several people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the Pan-American Highway in Natá, Coclé. The collision disrupted traffic on one of Panama’s busiest routes.
Two women in Panama were sentenced to 232 months in prison after trying to bring drugs and weapons into La Joyita prison. The case highlights ongoing concerns over contraband and security inside the country’s detention centers.
Authorities seized more than 1,900 suspected counterfeit items in operations at four businesses in Panama City’s 5 de Mayo area. The crackdown highlights continued efforts to combat illegal merchandise in the capital.
A hemodialysis patient had a vehicle stolen at the CSS complex on Transístmica in Panama City, with damaged cameras leaving no suspects identified. The case has raised new concerns over security at a major public health facility.
France is investigating a foiled plot against Bank of America’s Paris offices and suspects a possible link to the pro-Iranian group HAYI. Authorities say the connection has not yet been formally established.
Interpol Panama arrested a French man on Balboa Avenue after confirming he was wanted in France for narcotics-related convictions. He was identified as Joël Soudron, who had also used false information on an immigration card.
President José Raúl Mulino floated reviving Panama’s coastal radar network during a meeting with U.S. Southern Command chief Gen. Francis L. Donovan. The discussion also covered ports, maritime security and regional cooperation against narcotrafficking.
Panama’s controversial coastal radar project is back under discussion after the president signaled support for reviving it. The plan faces renewed scrutiny over its cost, effectiveness, and corruption history.