2019 murders  reach 463 as gangs fight for control

A dramatic spike of  70  murders in Panama in December ensured that there would be more killings in 2019 than the previous year.

Until  December 1, there were 16 fewer but then came a rampage in the month of goodwill that saw 70 killed. a figure not matched since Dec 2012 when there  were 64

The massacre of 15 inmates at the La Joyita Penitentiary, sparked  the increase of homicides  followed ny  revenge killings linked to the jail victims

 Until mid-2019, when former president Juan Carlos Varela was still in power, 200 murders occurred in six months, and after President Nito Cortizo took over there were another  263 bringing the number of murders in 2019, to 463 and ending the drop in crimes that had been taking place since 2009.

National Police director  Jorge Miranda said that the largest number of homicides in the country are linked to organized crime in its different manifestations such as: gangs, criminal quarrels, drug trafficking (seizures and drug loss) and account settling among criminals.

Asked about the number of homicides that occur in Colón, being said that its geographical location and logistics facilities make it attractive to drug trafficking organizations, generating constant violence in the dispute over territory and control of the activity.

Failures
He also indicated that considering the conflicts, the unplanned way f moving 28,000 people to a housing development consisting of 180 buildings of 30 apartments each divided into 10 sectors, without considering the rivalries between the different gangs, has been another factor generating violence.

“We assumed the direction of the Police without a transition and immediately began to see that there were many things that were no longer working well. The police had no vehicles (56% of the damaged vehicle fleet and no parts to repair,  and three years without patrol acquisition) ..  ahigh demotivation and frustration among the troops,“ he said.

Miranda added that there was very little or almost no coordination with the Public Prosecutor, which resulted in no anti-gang operation being carried out during the 6 months of management and only 3 were made. operations in the first 6 months of 2019, a situation that contrasts with previous years where up to 20 operations were carried out in one year.

“What we see on the streets is the result of a strategy if it existed, was wrong. Gangs strengthened and fought  for territorial control and account adjustments, which translates into an increase in violence perpetrated by mostly young people, ‘said Miranda.”