$276,000 Emptied from a Bank Account Using a Cell Phone Stolen During the Las Tablas Carnivals, with Eleven People Arrested as a Result.
The Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office dismantles an alleged criminal network in ‘Operation Zenith’ through simultaneous raids in Panama, Panama West and Colón. The theft of a cell phone on Valentine’s Day during Carnival in Las Tablas led authorities to an investigation into the alleged commission of financial crimes and money laundering.
Eleven people linked to an alleged financial fraud and money laundering were captured this Monday by the Attorney General’s Office (PGN) , in conjunction with the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ) of the National Police , in the middle of “Operation Zenith” simultaneously in Panama, Panama West and Colón. The criminal case began on February 14, 2026, Valentine’s Day, during the Carnival festivities. The victim was in Porras Park in Las Tablas when his mobile device was stolen. According to the formal complaint, the criminals managed to breach the device’s security systems to access the victim’s online banking. Within hours, they made multiple unauthorized transfers, draining $276,000 from the victim’s bank account.
Given the seriousness of the economic damage, the Economic Crimes Section of the Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office coordinated a series of simultaneous raids and searches. The operations were strategically concentrated in various sectors of the provinces of Panama, Panama West and Colón, resulting in the apprehension of the suspects and the collection of technological evidence linked to the fraud, the Public Ministry reported. The detainees will be brought before a judge in the coming hours and will face charges for the alleged commission of financial crimes and money laundering. Meanwhile, authorities are alerting the public about the importance of protecting banking credentials and immediately blocking digital access in case of loss or theft of mobile phones.
