Security personnel aided  dismantled criminal network

A joint operation between Panama and Colombia managed to dismantle a criminal network linked to the Clan del Golfo, from which more than 800 kilos of cocaine, and 1,500 ammunition were seized and which maintained a presence on the coast of Darién, for the transfer of drugs to Central America. and the United States.

Operation Polux began in 2019 when it was detected that an agent from the National Air and Naval Service (Senan) had contacts with a group of Colombian dissidents from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), now associated with the Clan del Golfo, who moved drug shipments to the Darién border and to the coasts of the province of Veraguas.

The director of Senan, Jeremías Urieta, said that seven Panamanians and one Colombian were arrested here.

In Colombia, the arrest of 12 people was achieved, including the alleged leader of the criminal network Humberto Reina Yepes (alias El Profe).

According to the investigations, the Senan official participated in the coordination and logistical support to the boats with drugs, which were delivered from fuel, water, and food. In addition, he contacted the owners of other ships that helped bring the drug to the coast.

Urieta explained that the criminal network also used Coiba Island to hide drug shipments and then send them to the United States.

In Colombia, 11 buildings, five businesses, nine vehicles, a boat, and 10 bank accounts were seized

The joint investigation revealed that the group sometimes used submersibles to transport the drug.

This is the third criminal gang linked to the Clan del Golfo dismantled in Panamanian territory

The first of them, the Damasco operation, started in the year 2019, in which the Humility and Purity (HP) gang was dismantled, which provided support to the Gulf Clan, among whose members there was an official of the Judicial Branch.

Then, in the Fisher operation that began in 2019, the arrest of 57 people linked to a network that operated on the coasts of the province of Colón linked to the Clan del Golfo was achieved. This group seized $10 million in a residence.

In the Fisher operation, the participation of officials from security forces who provided logistical support to circumvent the surveillance of the Senan patrol boats was also detected.