Prosecutors seek provisional arrest of 56 in drug bust

Drug prosecutors have requested provisional arrest imposed on 56 of the 57 investigated for alleged offenses of laundering and conspiracy laundering because of their ties assumptions with a criminal network associated with the Clan del Golfo that operates in the coasts of Colón, Panama and Coclé.

The other accused has already negotiated a plea deal of 68 months jail time.

During the fifth day of the hearing, the prosecutor Joseph Díaz said that the detention measure requested is appropriate, because they are serious crimes and all the accused are highly dangerous for the community.

The prosecutor revealed that the network managed a large group of frontmen led by a lawyer, who was in charge of managing the creation of joint-stock companies for the acquisition of properties with which money from drug trafficking was legitimized.

The prosecutor said that the lawyer created the companies, then bought the properties that, later, were transferred to other members of the gang, in order to simulate an alleged sale.

According to the prosecution, this modus operandi extended to the purchase of luxury vehicles, valued at $60,000, $80,000, and up to $132,000, which were then used by Jorge Luis General – alleged leader – and other members of the network to travel to different points of the country

The frontmen, including an official from the Ministry of Education, made their names available to the network for the acquisition of a farm valued at $1 million located in Río Hato, and another in Montelimar, in La Chorrera, valued at $335,000

A financial report by the National Police revealed that the front men used cashier’s checks and on other occasions credit cards for payments, but never occupied the properties, as is the case of an apartment at PH Astoria in El Cangrejo, which is registered in the name of a company, but in reality, it was occupied by General.

A police report details that the apartment was also used by the leaders of the group to hold meetings.

Investigations also reveal that the Magna Pesca company was used as a screen for legitimizing money from illegal activities.

The prosecution confirmed that members of the network traveled to Colombia to meet with members of the Clan del Golfo.

During the hearing, it emerged that the Clan has a territory dispute with a gang led by alias Marshall, detained in Punta Coco, for which it is presumed that an attack suffered by General is related to the rivalry.

The Defense
Defense lawyers alleged that the prosecution has presented a series of evidence on the purchase of properties without having corroborated them in the Public Registry and the Ministry of Economy and Finance since these properties were acquired between 2015 and 2016, long before the investigations started.

They also alleged that surveillance and monitoring procedures carried out by the Police speak of meetings, but do not provide any details about the content of the conversations, some of which were of a family nature.