Women who masterminded drug sales network detained

Two sisters and three other women, who led a network dedicated to the retail sale of drugs in the provinces of Panama and West Panama are in provisional detention.

The group of 14, most of them women was dismantled by the National Police and Public Ministry officials on September 27, in Operation West22.

They operated in the provinces of Panama and West Panama and had telephone communications as their modus operandi to coordinate all logistics for the sale, reception, distribution, custody, and security of illicit substances.

Street sales 
According to the Public Ministry, the group was managed in a pyramidal structure, where two sisters appeared as leaders, it is presumed that they received the illicit substance from Patio Pinel, district of Santa Ana, and had a group in charge of making the deliveries to street vendors.

The organization had been operating in both provinces for several years with a properly organized structure that allowed them to coordinate the business at different points in the La Chorrera district.

 At the hearing, the prosecutors Carlos Batista and Joseph Díaz presented to the judge of guarantees, Manuel Sánchez, the elements of conviction that the investigation began in January 2022, for which they requested the precautionary measure of provisional detention. It was only granted to five of those captured, including the two leaders of the criminal group.

Bail of $3,000 was applied to three people, but they will remain under provisional detention until they comply with the payment, while the remaining six were ordered house arrest

Prosecutor Batista will appeal the precautionary measures other than provisional detention.