First Italian l boats gifted for helicopter contract reach Panama

The first four patrol boats donated by the Italian government to Panama arrived Wednesday May 3 at the port of Manzanillo, Colon, 85 kilometers from the capital city.

The boats were gifted by Italy after the signing of a contract between the Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica and Panama for the purchase of radars, helicopters and a digital map.  

The boats were shipped from Messina. The authorities announced that two  would be used on the Pacific and two in the Atlantic area. President, Ricardo Martinelli, reported the arrival of the boats.   The Authorities said the boats will be used to patrol the coasts and seas of Panama to fight drug trafficking and international crime.  

The boats arrived in country in the midst of the "scandal Lavítola" which exploded in Italy and splashed to Panama for alleged bribery charges in the helicopter and radar transaction and in planned modular prison construction.