In a major blow to maritime organized crime, Panamanian authorities launched Operation Dársena Cero, resulting in the arrest of 16 individuals linked to a sophisticated drug-trafficking network. The group specialized in the contamination of shipping containers, a tactic where illicit substances are hidden within legitimate cargo already inside the port system. This crackdown, spanning the provinces of Panama, Colón, and Panama Oeste, targeted a ring that had been under investigation since 2023.
The operation highlights a dangerous “insider threat” within the region’s logistics hubs. Among those apprehended are two Customs (Aduanas) officials, several port workers, and transport drivers. These individuals allegedly used their high-level access to compromise secure shipments, effectively hijacking the reputation of international exporters to facilitate the movement of more than five tons of cocaine and chemical precursors toward Europe.
A striking example of this scheme occurred in April 2025, involving a shipment of local coffee from El Salvador. While the cargo left its origin as a legitimate export, it was intercepted in a Panamanian port after the criminal network “contaminated” the container with 1,152 packages of illicit substances. By using Salvadoran coffee as a cover, the group attempted to exploit stable trade routes to mask their criminal activity.
During coordinated raids, the Specialized Drug Prosecutor’s Office and the National Police seized significant evidence linking the suspects to international trafficking. Investigators confirmed that the evidence gathered at the suspects’ residences, authorized by a guarantee judge, will be pivotal in the upcoming trials.
Following the arrests, the National Police issued a statement through their official channels, reaffirming their commitment to continue developing operational actions to weaken criminal organizations dedicated to the international trafficking of illicit substances that use ports and maritime routes within the national territory. This successful intervention marks a critical step in protecting the integrity of Central American exports in the global marketplace.