Security forces have expanded their crackdown to the Penonomé prison in Coclé province. The operation targeted contraband and prohibited items inside the facility. Authorities mobilized 395 agents to search 12 cell blocks housing 679 inmates.
The raid is part of a broader strategy called Operation Cerrojo. This initiative follows a massive escape of 195 prisoners from La Joyita prison several weeks ago. That event triggered urgent calls for tighter controls across the nation’s correctional facilities.
Officials reported significant seizures during the Penonomé inspection. Agents confiscated 167 packages containing suspected illegal substances. They also found $4,282.50 in cash, 78 cellphones, 34 televisions, one router and 1,146 other prohibited items.
Government Response to Prison Security Crisis
The Ministry of Public Security directed the intervention. Agents from multiple law enforcement branches participated in the exhaustive search. Their mission was to neutralize illicit activities and strengthen security measures within the Panama prison system.
Inspectors focused on detecting objects that could compromise order. These items included weapons, communication devices and other contraband. The operation represents a zero-tolerance approach to prison lawlessness.
We are closing spaces for criminal activities inside our prisons. These operations will continue until we restore full order and control across all penitentiary centers. [Translated from Spanish]
The Penonomé raid follows similar actions at other major facilities. In La Joyita, authorities deployed 2,494 agents from the National Police, the National Border Service and the National Aeronaval Service. That operation uncovered firearms, over 150 cellphones, chargers and Starlink antennas.
Widespread Contraband Problem Plagues Correctional Facilities
Security forces also targeted the Nueva Esperanza prison in Colón province. Nearly 1,500 agents searched multiple pavilions holding more than 1,200 inmates. They seized firearms, ammunition, cellphones and other banned objects.
The Penonomé prison raid demonstrates the scale of the challenge. Finding 1,146 prohibited items in a single facility shows systemic weaknesses. Officials say these contraband goods enable gang operations and internal violence.
Cellphones remain the most dangerous item smuggled into prisons. Inmates use them to coordinate crimes, threaten witnesses and manage drug trafficking networks. The 78 phones seized at Penonomé represent a direct blow to these operations.
The Ministry of Security aims to conduct permanent inspection operations. These raids will continue across all 23 penitentiary centers in Panama. Each facility will face similar scrutiny in the coming weeks.
Authorities believe the crackdown will disrupt criminal networks operating from inside prisons. The massive escape from La Joyita exposed serious security failures. That incident prompted the current wave of aggressive inspections and reforms.
Prison directors now face increased accountability for security breaches. The government has promised to implement new protocols and technologies. These measures aim to prevent future escapes and stop contraband smuggling.
Operation Cerrojo represents the most comprehensive prison security initiative in recent Panamanian history. The coordinated raids across multiple facilities signal a new approach. Officials want inmates and guards to understand that illegal activities will face immediate consequences.
The Penonomé operation lasted several hours. Agents documented every item seized for potential criminal investigations. The cash and drugs will likely lead to new charges against specific inmates.
Security forces remain stationed at the facility. They will conduct follow-up inspections in the coming days. The goal is to maintain pressure and prevent contraband from returning.
Panama’s prison system holds approximately 25,000 inmates across its facilities. Overcrowding and understaffing have created conditions where smuggling thrives. These operations represent a direct challenge to that status quo.
Desplegamos la #OperaciónCerrojo en el Centro Penitenciario de Penonomé, bajo la dirección del @minsegpma mediante una intervención y control riguroso, realizando requisas exhaustivas para detectar e incautar objetos prohibidos, neutralizar actividades ilícitas reforzando la… pic.twitter.com/jkrJ9WgzWM
— Policía Nacional (@policiadepanama) June 13, 2026