More raids as Operation “Fisher” moves forward

Raids were conducted in four districts of the country on  Wednesday, January 26,  in the development of the second phase of Operation “Fisher” operation which has already led to the arrest of 56 people allegedly linked to a Columbian drug cartel.

A residence in Hato Pintado was among those hit by officials of the First Drug Prosecutor’s Office and agents of the National Police.

According to first reports, the Hato Pintafo incursion was carried out with the aim of locating “indications” of the criminal network dedicated to drug trafficking, which was dismantled last December in the first phase of “Fisher”.

On December 9, 2020, the guarantee judge Teodolinda Cardoze ordered the preventive detention of 51 of the 56 accused of crimes of illicit association and money laundering.

The group of 56 people is accused of being part of a criminal organization linked to the Clan del Golfo, whose base is in Colombia.

One of the defendants, Xavier Bartuano, agreed to a sentence of 68 months in prison for the crime of illicit association.

Prosecutor Joseph Díaz said that the Colombian criminal organization was responsible for most of the drugs that reach the Panamanian coast.