Nine Members of the Illuminati Gang in Panama have Charges Filed and Arrest Orders Issued by Judge Carmelo Sambrano.
In Operation Elite, police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office captured nine members of the Illuminati gang.
Judge Carmelo Sambrano ordered the detention of 9 of the 10 people arrested in Operation “Elite,” which dismantled a criminal organization involved in murders, robberies, extortion, and drug trafficking that operated in the eastern part of Panama province. In a hearing that began Thursday, Judge Sambrano charged the 10 detainees with gang-related offenses, but granted the precautionary measure of periodic notification to one of the defendants, considering that the Prosecutor’s Office could not establish a strong link with the alleged crimes. During the hearing, the Prosecutor’s Office presented the judge with evidence linking the defendants to serious crimes that endanger the community and jeopardize security.
The gang “Los Iluminati”, based in the area known as La Invasión in 24 de Diciembre, is responsible for the distribution of drugs in the Tocumen, Pacora and 24 de Diciembre area. According to the Prosecutor’s investigation, which began in 2025, this group maintains distinctive tattoos and places graffiti in the areas where it has influence to keep rival gangs away. The Prosecutor’s Office maintains telephone interceptions of conversations between gang members in which details of their activities and places under their control are given. Messages were also collected on the social network Instagram under the pseudonyms “Sin Sentimiento”, “Abdielito 2092” and “Auténtico” in which they present details of their activities and identify themselves as gang members.
The Prosecutor’s investigation also confirmed the participation of some of the gang members in the murder of an agent of the National Border Service (Senafront) and other cases of attempted murder. The investigation also revealed that the Illuminati maintain a collaboration with the Humility and Purity (HP) gang; the latter participates in drug trafficking from Colombia led by the Clan del Golfo. The Prosecutor’s investigations include surveillance and monitoring of some members of the Illuminati that link them to micro-trafficking and extortion activities. The operation to apprehend the members of this criminal group included raids in 24 de Diciembre, Tocumen and other sectors of the eastern sector of Panama. In Panama, there are approximately 121 active gangs, mostly dedicated to micro-trafficking, extortion, robberies, and drug theft.
