Author: Sebastian Pieper

Panama’s National Police arrested a citizen and confiscated 50 rectangular packages of suspected narcotics during a preventive surveillance operation along Avenida Balboa in the Bella Vista district. The Avenida Balboa drug seizure unfolded when officers stopped a vehicle and discovered the packages hidden inside a sack within the car. The detained individual, the vehicle, and all collected evidence were transferred to the relevant authorities for processing. Police confirmed the operation forms part of broader efforts to reinforce security and disrupt criminal activity across the capital. Details of the Balboa Avenue Narcotics Operation Officers conducted the stop as part of routine…

The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) reopened the Oria Arriba bridge in Pedasí on Monday, restoring the Pedasi bridge reopening as a critical link for vehicles traveling toward Tonosí district in Los Santos province. The move comes as emergency crews work to deliver humanitarian aid to communities shaken by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Panama on October 9. Officials confirmed that vehicle circulation resumed immediately, allowing both residents and relief convoys to reach affected areas without lengthy detours. The bridge had been closed for structural assessment following the seismic event, which damaged roads and infrastructure across the Azuero Peninsula.…

Renters searching for a Panama apartment rental in the San Francisco corregimiento are facing a stark pricing divide, with two residential towers advertising identical 109-square-meter units at monthly rates that differ by $978. Data compiled by Nexo Living, a real estate analytics platform, shows Aquapoint in Punta Paitilla lists 51 unfurnished apartments at an average of $2,559 per month, while Quartier in Villa Lilla asks $1,581 for the same size across 24 active listings. The 62 percent premium at Aquapoint translates to an annual gap of $11,736 for tenants signing a one-year lease. Per square meter, the disparity narrows to…

Commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell 96 percent between September 1 and 27, 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, according to satellite tracking data from IMF PortWatch. The collapse marks the most severe disruption among the world’s five strategic maritime chokepoints, far outpacing declines at the Panama Canal, which recorded an 11 percent drop in daily transits over the same window. Global Maritime Chokepoints: Daily Ship Transit Changes 2025 vs 2026 Global Maritime Chokepoints Strait of Hormuz 84.6 ships/day (2025) → 3.7 (2026) Variation: -95.6% Bab el-Mandeb 34.3 ships/day (2025) → 26.2 (2026) Variation: -23.6%…

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino visited the automated port of Tuas in Singapore today, Sunday, describing the facility as a model that could reshape his country’s logistics strategy. The terminal, which aims to become the world’s largest fully automated container port, represents the kind of consolidated megaport infrastructure Panama could leverage to strengthen its position in the Americas. Mulino toured the Operations Control Center alongside Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha, Canal Minister José Ramón Icaza, and Panama’s Ambassador to Singapore, Sebastián Breton. The delegation received technical briefings on the port’s autonomous truck systems and 24-hour automated yard operations. Inside the Automated…

Panama’s transit authority is drafting new regulations that could require riders of electric scooters and electric motorbikes to obtain a driver’s license before using public roads. The proposal, confirmed by Nicolás Brea, director of the Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (ATTT), remains under internal review with no approved timeline for implementation. The move responds to a sharp rise in electric mobility devices across Panama City and other urban areas. Brea said the working group analyzing updates to the national traffic code expects to reach a determination soon, but he declined to specify when new rules might take effect. Licensing…

The 29th edition of the coin collectors’ fair opened this weekend at the Sheraton Hotel’s Grand Salon in Panama City, drawing numismatists and history enthusiasts eager to buy, trade, and display rare currency. Organized by the Numismatic Association of Panama, the event runs through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Attendees can explore collections spanning coins, banknotes, stamps, postcards, pins, and insignias. Some pieces date back to 1904, offering a tangible link to Panama’s early monetary history alongside modern investment-grade items in silver and gold. Rare Coins and Investment Pieces on Display Darío Berbey, a longtime collector, described the…

Panama’s government procurement platform shows 342 open tenders valued at $780.4 million as of October 1, with nearly half closing within a week. The data reveals a striking pattern in Panama public contracts where competition varies dramatically depending on what the state is buying. Of those 342 open acts, 194 worth $125.8 million will stop accepting proposals by October 8. The figures come from PanamaCompra, the official portal managed by the Directorate General of Public Procurement, and were processed by Nexo Licita as of October 1, 2026. Public Procurement: 342 Open Tenders Worth $780.4M 342 Public tenders open to proposals…

The National Migration Service (SNM) has launched a series of solidarity events across multiple provinces as part of the Panama migration 66th anniversary celebrations, with the official commemoration set for September 29. Teams from regional offices have been visiting schools, shelters, and health centers to strengthen institutional ties with local communities. Authorities confirmed that outreach activities began this month and will continue through September, spanning Darién, Chepo, Chiriquí, and Veraguas. The initiative aims to reposition the agency as a service-oriented institution rather than solely an enforcement body. Panama Migration 66th Anniversary Outreach Reaches Darién and Chepo In Darién province, regional…

The Municipal Council of Panama has authorized Mayor Mayer Mizrachi to sign an agreement with the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) that will link the Panamá Emprende system directly with city records. The move means the Mayor wants your business license information flowing automatically between institutions, eliminating the need for separate filings across government offices. Approved through Acuerdo 280 on September 15, the agreement targets business owners operating in the capital district. Once implemented, the municipality will gain access to operational notices, including modifications, suspensions, reactivations, and cancellations filed through the national online platform. Why the Mayor Wants Your…