Author: Sebastian Pieper

A fossilized fish head recovered from Panama’s Chagres Formation has turned out to be much more than just another specimen in a collection. Scientists from the University of Panama have identified the exceptionally preserved flying fish fossil as a completely new species, and the discovery is delivering fresh evidence about how the rise of the Central American isthmus reshaped marine evolution roughly 10 million years ago. The new species, formally named Dactylopterus decrozi, belongs to the Dactylopteridae family, a group commonly known as flying gurnards or bat flying fish. These unusual fish possess enlarged pectoral fins that give them a…

Rising Panama domestic violence statistics have become a central concern for the country’s security leadership, with officials now drawing a direct line between household conflicts and lethal outcomes. Speaking during a community gathering in the Azuero region, Security Minister Frank Ábrego warned that authorities are seeing a troubling pattern across multiple provinces, one that demands urgent prevention work alongside traditional law enforcement. “Personal injuries are the prelude to homicide” [Translated from Spanish] Ábrego delivered the assessment before an audience of civil society leaders, municipal officials, and members of the Azuero Chamber of Commerce. His message was unambiguous: the escalation from…

More than 500 people have been detained for violating the San Miguelito curfew, officials said, as the district remains under a reinforced overnight security operation. The latest figures show 506 apprehensions, including 45 minors, since authorities began enforcing the restriction with help from multiple branches of Panama’s public safety forces. That number reflects a broad push to control movement and disrupt criminal activity in one of the country’s most densely populated urban districts. Security Forces Maintain 34 Control Points Police and supporting agencies have established 34 active control points throughout San Miguelito, with more than 400 uniformed personnel on the…

A hotel building in Obarrio that sat dark and unused for six years is about to get a second life, powered by a $40 million Panama hotel investment from Canadian group Mercan. The company has acquired the former Sonesta property in Bella Vista and plans to transform it into the Pullman Panama City, marking the debut of both Mercan and the Pullman brand in the country’s hospitality market. Announced this August 2026, the project represents a partnership with French hospitality giant Accor, which owns the Pullman Hotels and Resorts brand. The development will feature more than 300 keys split between…

Three confirmed nests belonging to the critically endangered leatherback turtle have been discovered on a remote beach in Panama’s Darién province, ending nearly ten years of silence for the species along the country’s Pacific coastline. The discovery at El Fondiaderito beach, near the small community of Jaqué, delivered 178 protected eggs to a local incubation hatchery and rekindled hope among marine biologists who had grown increasingly concerned about the species’ disappearance from these waters. A Decade of Absence Ends on a Remote Darién Beach For almost ten years, researchers and conservationists had failed to document a single leatherback turtle nest…

Twenty individuals tied to a sophisticated luggage tag switching operation at Panama’s Tocumen International Airport have received prison sentences ranging from 9 to 18 years for trafficking cocaine to Europe using unsuspecting travelers’ suitcases. The scheme came to light after passengers complained about missing baggage that later resurfaced at European airports, this time containing narcotics instead of their personal belongings. Inside the Luggage Tag Switching Network Prosecutors identified Fernando Mendoza as the ringleader of the criminal enterprise. Mendoza had been detained twice before for drug trafficking through the same airport, in 2002 and 2009. His latest operation, But, was built…

Panama’s Ministry of Health has issued a nationwide sanitary alert after Brazilian regulators detected a counterfeit version of Mounjaro, a medication widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight management. The alert, which identifies a specific falsified lot numbered D881474 with an expiration date of April 2027, urges consumers to avoid purchasing the fake Mounjaro Diabetes Drug from unauthorized channels. Officials stressed that the counterfeit product has not been registered in Panama, but they remain concerned about its potential circulation through informal markets. Understanding the Fake Mounjaro Diabetes Drug Threat Mounjaro, known generically as tirzepatide, has become a high-demand medication…

Scientists working at the newly inaugurated Chepo agricultural lab have documented a wasp species previously unknown to science, one of several breakthroughs that could reshape how Panama protects its rice and corn harvests. The facility, formally known as the Biological Control of Agricultural Pests Laboratory, opened at the Oriental Agricultural Innovation Center in El Naranjal, Chepo, through a joint effort by the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt) and the Agricultural Innovation Institute of Panama (Idiap). Researcher Bruno Zachrisson, a member of the National Research System, led the project that equipped the lab using funds from Senacyt’s specialized…

A reported robbery in the Frangipani sector quickly turned into a major police operation that produced a substantial Bella Vista cash seizure and three arrests in Panama City. The National Police and the Public Ministry coordinated the intervention after officers tracked a suspect vehicle to Bella Vista. Robbery Report Sparks Coordinated Police Action Officers received an alert about a possible robbery in Frangipani and began following leads that pointed to a group traveling in a specific vehicle. Instead of stopping the suspects immediately, police and prosecutors organized a search and registration procedure under the rules of a formal investigation. That…

Panama’s Ministry of Environment has imposed immediate fines totaling B/.7,280.00 after field inspections revealed that multiple Isla Contadora construction projects are operating without proper environmental permits and disposing of debris dangerously close to the island’s only freshwater reserve. Isla Contadora Construction Pressure Reaches Critical Levels The enforcement operation, conducted in August 2026, targeted the growing number of building projects and earth-moving activities across the island. What inspectors found went beyond isolated violations. The sheer volume of simultaneous construction has created what MiAMBIENTE officials describe as cumulative environmental pressure that the island’s limited surface area can’t absorb. Heavy machinery moving across…