The Panama Police Confirm they Use ‘Undercover Agents’ but not ‘Infiltrators’.  Social Groups Denounce a Spy Network.

Panama’s National Police (PN) officially confirmed the deployment of “undercover agents” but strongly denied using “infiltrators” following serious accusations by local social and trade union groups.

The Denunciation by Social Groups.

In September 2026, a coalition of human rights and labor groups—led by the Pueblo Unido por la Vida alliance—filed a formal complaint with the Office of the Attorney General of Panama and submitted a joint letter to UN Special Rapporteurs.

• The Allegations: The groups claim a clandestine espionage network of over 40 agents from the National Directorate of Police Intelligence (DNIP) has been operating a parallel tracking network.

• The Targets: The alleged espionage focused on social leaders, union members (such as the construction union SUNTRACS), environmentalists, indigenous groups, students, and journalists.

• The Methods: Activists compiled a 120-page dossier documenting instances of physical surveillance, unauthorized photo-taking, and the suspected use of intrusive malware like Pegasus. They label these actions as illegal judicial persecution (“lawfare”) meant to intimidate and silence public protests against current government policies.

The Police Response.

The National Police issued a statement calling the espionage accusations “baseless,” though they carefully clarified their strategic terminology:

• Undercover Agents (Agentes Encubiertos): The police confirmed they maintain active undercover agents. They argued that these operations are legally authorized, auxiliary tools of justice necessary to protect national security, maintain public order, and investigate serious crime.

• No Infiltrators (Infiltrados): The agency explicitly rejected the term “infiltrators” to distance themselves from claims of unauthorized, parallel espionage or political spying on civil society without a judicial warrant.

The friction comes amidst broader public tensions regarding policing limits, state intelligence transparency, and government pushback against social demonstrations in Panama.