More Companies Linked to Abraham Rico Pineda and PRD Are Under Investigation

A fumigation company that shares offices in Betania with a company linked to Abraham Rico Pineda received over $1.4 million in state contracts during the government of Laurentino “Nito” Cortizo (2019-2024).  Zappe Panama, the company linked to Servicios Rama that also received contracts with the State is accused of the alleged commission of the crime of money laundering as part of the anti-drug operation Jericó.   Zappe is located on Calle 62 Oeste, house E1, in the Los Ángeles urbanization, Betania district.  That is the same address provided by Servicios Múltiples Rama, SA, a company that Rico Pineda chaired between 2015 and 2019.  Its current president is Omar Ortega Robles.  Both Rico and Ortega are charged with alleged money laundering. Servicios Múltiples Rama, SA, the cleaning company that was allegedly used to launder drug money — according to investigators of Operation Jericho — has been left without a legal resident agent.  The resident agent of Multiple Services Branch has resigned, which is not a big surprise.  The notarized document does not specify the reasons for this resignation.

Judge Mónica Barrios charged Carlos Rodríguez Bascombe, pictured above, with alleged conspiracy to commit drug-related crimes as part of the criminal network dismantled in Operation Jericho.  Bascombe was arrested on Tuesday, August 27 in San Pedro, a district of Juan Díaz. According to the prosecution, he was responsible for guarding drug shipments arriving by sea from Colombia to Juan Díaz.