Former governor in detention amid  concerns over cartels’ political links

The former governor of Guna Yala Erick Iván Martelo Robinson, who was fired on Tuesday after being caught transporting packets of cocaine is in preventive detention facing drug charges possession charges aggravated by drug and car modification that could lead to a 16-20 year jail term.

He was arrested along with his friend Rogelio Alba, a  Ministry of Government driver en route to  Chepo.

Martelo, a member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), was apprehended on Monday night after an intelligence and monitoring operation  He and his companion they were detained at the police checkpoint in Las Garzas de Pacora.

When his vehicle was searched, the competent authorities found 79 packages of cocaine under the front seats in a  hidden compartment.

The judicial authorities already had their eye on the former governor and through the operation called ‘Luxor’, they followed up and captured him. The anti-drug department with intelligence information set up the checkpoint.

The authorities were already aware of illicit operations in the area with potential family involvement.

The arrest has re-ignited concerns about the growing influence of drug cartels in Panama politics.