- Title: PANAMA: Panamanian authorities seize 73 packages of marijuana in Darien
- Date: 31st May 2012
- Summary: FRANK ABREGO WITH ANOTHER OFFICER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FRANK ABREGO, COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL BORDER SERVICE, SAYING: "The narco-terrorist organization brings drugs, and in exchange for that they receive money, weapons, ammunition, explosives, or items such as laptops, televisions, or food." PACKAGES OF MARIJUANA GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FRANK ABREGO, COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL BORDER SERVICE, SAYING: "We understand that part of the international traffic of drugs takes place on the border, and is directed by narco-terrorist organizations such as the FARC, and looks for the assistance of local citizens who transport the drugs to the capital of our country." PANAMANIAN BORDER POLICEMAN WEARING MOTORCYCLE HELMET BORDER POLICE OFFICERS AND TRUCKS VIEW FROM HELICOPTER FLYING OVER DARIEN REGION
- Embargoed: 15th June 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Panama
- Country: Panama
- Topics: Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA84ZM8M6DN7GEZJN5DWE86NM1L
- Story Text: Panamanian authorities on Tuesday (May 29) announced that 73 packages of what they believe to be marijuana were seized in the Darien region of the country, bordering Colombia.
"Our patrols are searching for any member of this narco-terrorist organization. We found this with the help of information from the local population, which alerted of us suspicious movements during the night. Our patrol arrived at the location and encountered these subjects, resulting in their capture," National Border Service Commissioner Frank Abrego said.
"The narco-terrorist organization brings drugs, and in exchange for that they receive money, weapons, ammunition, explosives, or items such as laptops, televisions, or food," he added.
Three Panamanian nationals were taken into custody after Panamanian police observed them loading the packages onto a wooden boat.
Abrego said that organizations such as Colombia's FARC seek to hire local Panamanians to help them transport narcotics to Panama City.
"We understand that part of the international traffic of drugs takes place on the border, and is directed by narco-terrorist organizations such as the FARC, and looks for the assistance of local citizens who transport the drugs to the capital of our country," he said.
On May 11, police uncovered two Colombian FARC bases covered by dense jungle in the Darien.
In the past similar FARC camps have been used as a departure point from which to smuggle cocaine past Panamanian and U.S. patrols that regularly seize loads of the drugs on their way north.
Just a few thousand police patrol Panama's humid, inhospitable border with Colombia. The Central American nation has long tolerated incursions by FARC rebels who cross over to stock up on supplies and escape Colombian security forces.
Drug trafficking through the Darien has profoundly altered the indigenous way of life where families live in wooden houses propped on stilts to stay safe from jaguars, and men ferry bananas to market in dugout canoes.
Efforts to launch sustainable forestry projects and attract tourism are also faltering under security threats. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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