A $1000 Reward is Being Offered for Information on Escaped Inmates from La Joyita Prison

The National Police announced an increase in the reward offered to those who provide information that allows the location and recapture of the inmates who remain at large after the escape registered at the La Joyita Penitentiary Center.  According to authorities, the reward was raised to $1,000 for useful and verifiable information that contributes to the capture of inmates who are still evading authorities. 

The measure is part of the actions implemented by the security forces to accelerate the location of the escapees and strengthen the investigations related to the escape.  The National Police are maintaining search operations in different parts of the country, with the support of other security entities.  Authorities reiterated that all information provided by the public will be treated with strict confidentiality. They also appealed to the public to cooperate with the investigations and report any information that could lead to the fugitives’ location. 

After Reward Increased to $1,000 For Each Escaped Prisoner a Suspected Murderer and Five Other Escapees from La Joyita Prison were Captured

The number of inmates still on the streets after the mass escape from the prison has now been reduced to 17.  Six inmates who escaped from La Joyita Penitentiary Center were recaptured in recent hours after intense operations, deployed by air and land nationwide and the increase to one thousand dollars for information leading to the capture of each one, thus reducing to 17 the number of fugitives remaining from the massive escape registered last Monday, June 1, 2026.  At this point, intelligence units of the National Police located Daniel Enrique Padilla Lasso, 42, who was hiding in an abandoned residence.

Five Other Inmates Who Escaped from La Joyita Prison Have Been Recaptured

The National Police recaptured five more inmates this weekend who had escaped from La Joyita prison. Four of them were located in operations in the La Bendición sector of the Las Garzas district.

The Keys Behind the Massive Tax Evasion at La Joyita: Corruption?

The National Police, the National Border Service, and the National Air and Naval Service are maintaining operations to capture the remaining escapees.  The escape of 195 inmates from La Joyita Penitentiary Center is a serious case of corruption that should motivate the authorities of the Ministry of Government to apply effective controls of those in charge of their security, according to former security minister Jhonatan Del Rosario.  He explained that security inside the pavilions is handled by guards from the Ministry of Government and Justice, and that perimeter security is the responsibility of the police, and that both must have operational coordination for control.

What Actually Happened at La Joyita

A severe prison crisis unfolded at the La Joyita Penitentiary Center in Panama

• The Jailbreak: On June 1, 2026, a massive riot and prison break resulted in the escape of 195 inmates.

• The Casualties: The violent outbreak left three prisoners dead and multiple people injured, including three National Police units.

• The Cause: Inmates reportedly rioted due to anger surrounding routine safety transfers of gang leaders between different prison wings.

• The Aftermath: Panama’s Ministry of Government initiated intense tracking operations, offering $500 rewards per fugitive that was increased to $1000.

The Status: Over 134 fugitives have been recaptured or have surrendered. Those caught are facing new charges of aggravated escape (evasión agravada), which carries an additional 4 to 7 years in prison.

The Story of the Escapes that have Plagued La Joyita: 213 Inmates Escaped in 18 Years

A review of documented cases reveals that at least 213 inmates have escaped from La Joyita between 2008 and 2026, including the mass escape of 195 prisoners.  The recent mass escape from La Joyita Penitentiary has once again brought the security of the Panamanian prison system under scrutiny. A review of documented cases between 2008 and 2026 reveals that at least 213 inmates escaped from this prison in various incidents.  Although several of these escapes involved only a few inmates, the escape of 195 prisoners recorded in June 2026 became the largest in the country’s recent history. 

From Gilberto Ventura to the mass escape of 2026: the escapes that marked La Joyita

2008: Escape of Seven Inmates

One of the most notorious cases of that year occurred when seven inmates escaped from pavilions 11 and 12 of the penitentiary.

2014: Four Dangerous Inmates Manage to Escape

Authorities reported the escape of four inmates considered highly dangerous. Following the escape, search operations were launched in areas near Pacora.

2015: Five Maximum Security Prisoners Escape

Five inmates escaped from Pavilion 7, the maximum-security wing of La Joyita prison. The then Minister of the Interior, Milton Henríquez, ordered an investigation to determine if there was any complicity on the part of officials responsible for the prison’s custody and security.  On June 14, 2018, an Israeli citizen escaped from La Joyita prison. Subsequent investigations led to legal proceedings against several prison officials and prison system managers for alleged irregularities related to the case. 

In February 2020, Gilberto Ventura Ceballos, a Dominican man convicted of kidnapping and murder, escaped from prison. His escape sparked a major national controversy and reignited criticism of security measures in penitentiary centers.  On June 1, 2026, 195 inmates escaped during a riot and a reorganization process of pavilions within the prison.  After several days of operations, the authorities managed to recapture more than a hundred of the escapees; however, dozens remained at large as the search efforts continued.  Taking only the documented and verifiable cases collected in this investigation, the balance is as follows:

• 2008: 7 prisoners
• 2014: 4 prisoners
• 2015: 5 prisoners
• 2018: 1 prisoner
• 2020: 1 prisoner
• 2026: 195 prisoners

Minimum documented total: 213 escaped prisoners between 2008 and 2026. The figure could be higher, since this count only includes cases widely documented and publicly confirmed by this media outlet and the Judicial Branch.

“They Won’t Let Us Bring Anything In”: Relatives React After Raids at La Joyita

Relatives of inmates at La Joyita Penitentiary expressed their concern and discontent following recent raids at the prison, stating that items they had worked hard to acquire for their loved ones were confiscated during the searches.  Among the items removed were mattresses, sheets, fans, and other everyday items that, they said, contributed to improving the conditions of the inmates inside the prison.  The relatives indicated that many of these items were purchased with financial sacrifice and delivered to the inmates through mechanisms permitted by the prison authorities. 

They also indicated that they do not know if the items will be returned or if there is any procedure to claim the belongings removed during the operations.  Adding to the concern about the confiscations is the notification received by family members that no objects will be allowed into the prison.  The measure comes amid security operations taking place at La Joyita following the recent mass escape of inmates and the searches carried out by security forces within the cellblocks.  Authorities have intensified inspections at the prison as part of actions aimed at strengthening internal control and preventing further security breaches.

Relatives of inmates at La Joyita prison denounced the confiscation of mattresses, sheets, and fans, and asserted that they will no longer be able to bring objects into the prison.