Social Security boss denies DEA found fentanyl outside of Panama

The embattled director of the Social Security Fund, Enrique Lau Cortés has denied that the US  Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has found vials of fentanyl outside the country with logos of the health entity.

The official reiterated that in November of last year, they received information about unusual behavior by one of the employees who had deposited a  briefcase out of sight in the CSS.

After examining the briefcase,  he was presented with an inventory that found a series of medications, including 12  vials of fentanyl.

As it is also used in organized crime and is also trafficked they immediately proceeded to communicate and make the respective complaints to the competent authorities and to carry out internal audits.

Regarding the duration of the investigation, he pointed out that he understands well that the media and society seek answers but their timings are different from the judicial ones, so he could not specify when it will end because it is not his competence.

According to Lau that he will not respond to sectors that seek “a head” for this fact and will work according to the evidence. He denied that his security chief has ties to people involved in organized crime and he finds it “unfortunate that his reputation is stained.”

Regarding other investigations for the theft of medicines and supplies from the entity, he confirmed that there are other open investigations that are in the hands of the Prosecutor’s Office.

“We have investigations that are running in Arraiján, La Chorrera and Panama,” he said. However, due to the international connotations of drug trafficking may have, they are focused on the investigation of fentanyl.

He indicated that the drug control or management system has evidently reflected that it is vulnerable and there are areas for improvement. They will have to strengthen everything that has to do with the journey of supplies from the moment they are acquired.