Reporting on criminal incidents, investigations, and law enforcement responses across Panama. Stories focus on facts, community impact, and safety developments.
Hong Kong police are hunting three suspects after a Hung Hom shop reportedly lost 73kg of gold bars, valued at an estimated US$12 million, in a suspected deception case.
Panama’s National Police executed Operation Armageddon XXXVII at La Joya Penitentiary in Pacora, seizing weapons, drugs, phones and a Starlink antenna as part of ongoing security efforts.
Authorities arrested a former IFARHU official and a merchant on March 20, 2026, in an investigation into alleged embezzlement of scholarship funds tied to IFARHU’s Panama East office.
A judge-led inquiry heard that residents in Tai Po were steered toward a convicted contractor amid widespread bid‑rigging, and that a consultant allegedly accepted a stipend to rubber‑stamp tenders.
A 51-year-old man, Luis Castillo, died in a rollover on the road to Chiriquicito in Boquete after hitting a drop in the surface linked to repair work; authorities have launched an investigation.
Chinese prosecutors have indicted former Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin on charges including embezzlement and bribery, Xinhua reports, four months after his arrest.
US preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026 are reportedly lagging after funding stalls, raising concerns about security at events and potential impacts on international fans, including those from Panama and Latin America.
Panamanian police and prosecutors arrested a former IFARHU regional director and a merchant in an alleged embezzlement of scholarship checks and beneficiary cards; the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is handling the case.
Hong Kong police arrested 13 people accused of laundering more than HK$113 million via the government’s iAM Smart digital ID app, using victims’ accounts and mule bank accounts often tied to fake job ads.
Panama’s Supreme Court ruled the First Superior Tribunal erred by removing Ronny Mizrachi from the Odebrecht trial, restoring the trial judge’s authority to weigh evidence and determine participation.
Panama’s National Police said they located in Burunga the vehicle used in a shooting on a coaster bus in Arraiján that injured two passengers. The investigation is ongoing.
An appeal requests public help locating Gilberto Paz Pérez, missing from Arraiján since January 2025. Anyone with information should call 346-1790 or 346-1791.
Panama’s National Police located the vehicle used in an armed attack against a bus driver in Arraiján. Authorities will perform forensic analysis as the investigation continues.
Official figures reported by TVN 2 show 70% of women detained in Panama are linked to drug offenses, often serving as couriers or in logistical roles, raising gender-specific policy questions.
Two American Bully dogs died after being left in a car in Colón while their owner was detained. Police and the owner offer conflicting versions as an investigation unfolds.
Panama’s Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office arrested a former Ifarhu regional director and a merchant in a probe into alleged embezzlement of $145,265 from the PASE‑U student aid program.
Newly released body camera footage has cast doubt on the DHS account of an ICE agent shooting that killed 23-year-old Ruben Ray Martinez in Texas, prompting fresh scrutiny and calls for answers from his family.
A private driver fired roughly three shots at a passenger coaster in Arraiján after a dispute over a road closure; one shot struck the bus driver while passengers were uninjured.
A driver in Panamá Oeste shot at a bus in Arraiján following a road dispute, wounding the bus driver. Authorities have not yet released further details.
Customs inspectors at Panamá Pacífico retained US$19,252 from a passenger who failed to declare the funds on entry, Telemetro reported. The incident highlights the importance of complying with customs declaration rules.
