Panama’s National Police apprehended two individuals and confiscated more than $59,000 in counterfeit US dollars during a targeted operation in Panama City. The seizures, part of an initiative called Operation Numeral, occurred in the Juan Díaz and Don Bosco districts following an investigation into suspected counterfeit currency distribution.
Authorities launched the operation after investigative work pointed to suspicious activity in Juan Díaz. Police units located a vehicle acting suspiciously in a commercial plaza and detained its two occupants. With a judicial warrant in hand, officers conducted a search of the car.
That search revealed a significant stash of fake bills. “Upon verifying the two occupants and inspecting the automobile with the corresponding judicial authorization, a significant quantity of false bills was located,” the National Police stated in an official report. [Translated from Spanish]
Identical Serial Numbers Confirm Forgery
Officers found counterfeit $100, $50, $20, and $10 bills inside the vehicle. A critical detail confirmed the money was fake. Every bill shared the same serial number. The total seized from this first phase of the operation reached $24,720.
Investigators did not stop there. Their work led them to a silk goods store, or sedería, in the Don Bosco district. Collaborating with the Ministry of Public (Public Prosecutor’s Office), police executed a search warrant on the premises.
Subsequently, the authorities located a store dedicated to silk goods in the Don Bosco district, where, through a search procedure carried out with the Public Ministry, more counterfeit bills were seized.
This second raid yielded another major haul. Police discovered additional counterfeit notes in denominations of $100, $50, $20, $10, $5, and $1. The value seized from the store added $34,277 to the total, bringing the combined confiscation to $58,997.
The two citizens connected to both locations now face formal charges. After the seizures, the Prosecutor’s Office issued apprehension orders against them. Prosecutors are moving forward with an investigation for the alleged commission of a crime against public trust, specifically the falsification of currency.
Ongoing Investigations and Broader Implications
All evidence from the raids has been remitted to continue the investigative process. The case highlights ongoing efforts by Panamanian authorities to combat financial crimes that undermine economic security. The use of identical serial numbers on the fake bills suggests a sophisticated, if flawed, production operation.
This police action follows other recent operations targeting systemic fraud. Authorities continue to emphasize inter-agency coordination, as seen in the collaboration between the National Police and the Public Ministry during the Don Bosco search. Successful operations often depend on such partnerships and detailed investigative groundwork.
Public trust in the currency is a cornerstone of economic stability. The National Police’s Operation Numeral demonstrates a proactive stance against threats to that stability. The investigation remains active as officials work to determine the source of the counterfeit notes and any potential wider network.