Drug gangsters had copies of upcoming search warrants

The Humildad y Purza (HP) gang, allegedly led by Carlos Roberto Aguilar, alias Robert, had information on all the proceedings that the investigative authorities intended to carry out in the midst of the Damascus operation since its members possessed copies of upcoming  search warrants  and inspections

Images of the search and arrest warrants – issued by the Office of the Prosecutor against Organized Crime – were found on the cell phone of a recently arrested member of the network and which came to light, during the Wednesday hearing of the indictment and application of precautionary measures to Teresina Vigil, sister of the deputy of the Panamanista Party Elías Vigil and Aguilar’s partner.

It also came to light that the group had an informant at the Public Ministry, who would forward the status of the processes followed to its members. This person even advised them on the most viable judicial strategies.

At the hearing, prosecutor Kritza Tejada explained that Vigil –alias la Patrona– was in charge of the logistics for the group’s meetings and that this was reflected in a report by the National Police, which details a meeting held in November 2020 at a beach hotel in Coclé. There were David Viteri, Carlos Roberto Aguilar, Victoriano Aguilar and Jorge Rubén Camargo, alias Cholo Chorrillo, among others.

The prosecution also exposed information contained in a judicial assistance request from Colombia, in which it was determined that the network had contacts with the Colombian Leslie Manyoma Barco (now deceased), a member of the Gulf Clan.

According to the prosecution, since 2017 the authorities had information about the presence of this network in East Panama, but it was not until 2018 that they were able to establish concrete indications about its members and operation.

Leonardo Paul, Vigil’s lawyer, argued that his client is only linked to the alleged request to rent rooms in a beach hotel and that this does not constitute the commission of a crime. He added that his client rented the rooms to celebrate her birthday and that only members of her family participated in the event.

He said that the presumption of innocence of his client has been violated since in the media they associated her with a criminal network without there being any evidence.

The lawyer asked the guarantee judge Mónica Barrios to prohibit the media from mentioning the name of his client to prevent continuing to “violate her  rights.”

Paul said that he informed the prosecution of his client’s return to Panama after a trip to Medellín, Colombia, for medical treatment,  Vigil underwent a tummy tuck and gluteal fat transfer.

The judge accepted the request of the prosecution to charge Vigil for the alleged commission of crimes against organized crime and to impose a precautionary measure of provisional detention.