Alisson Castañeda, a Panamanian Merchant Marine Officer, is Released after Being Held in Honduras in Inhumane Conditions.
Panama’s Merchant Marine Oddicer Alisson Castañeda spent three days under prison-like precarious conditions at the San Pedro Sula airport in Honduras.
Panamanian merchant marine officer Alisson Sabrina Castañeda Aguilar is finally back in Panama after being detained apparently arbitrarily and incommunicado by Honduran immigration authorities at San Pedro Sula International Airport. The incident began when the officer arrived in Honduras intending to travel to the port of Roatán, where she was scheduled to board the Carnival Paradise cruise ship on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
However, the officer explains that local authorities unjustifiably denied her entry into the country, citing the alleged lack of a required stamp. The maritime professional reported having spent three days in confinement in inhumane conditions, during which time she was restricted from accessing drinking water and basic food, in addition to being kept in total uncertainty about her repatriation flight. As a direct consequence of this migratory action, the cruise ship sailed without her, causing her professional and employment harm.
In response to the situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIRE) and the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) activated the corresponding diplomatic protocols. The Panamanian ambassador to Honduras, Mario Gálvez, facilitated assistance and confirmed the Panamanian woman’s release following official intervention. In a joint statement issued this Thursday, Panamanian authorities expressed regret over the incident and assured that they will continue to monitor the case through their embassy to clarify the reasons for the treatment received by the merchant marine officer in Honduran territory.
