A Panamanian court entered its fourth day of hearings Sunday for sixty individuals accused of operating an international drug trafficking network from Tocumen International Airport and various national ports. The extensive proceedings, part of Operations Eros and Colibri, focus on formalizing charges and requesting preventative detention measures against the suspects. This case represents one of the most significant drug trafficking investigations in recent Panamanian history, exposing deep-seated corruption within critical transportation infrastructure.
The judicial process resumed Sunday the 16th of November, at 9:00 a.m. in Room No. 1 of the First Judicial Circuit Office located in Plaza Agora. Saturday’s marathon session, which began over an hour and a half late and concluded at 7:28 p.m., saw the Public Prosecutor’s Office present its formal accusation against 24 of the investigated individuals. Court documents detail a sophisticated criminal structure that allegedly used manipulated luggage tags and coastal entry points to smuggle cocaine to Europe.
Edie Gálvez has been identified as the alleged leader of the group. [Translated from Spanish]
Drug prosecutor Julio Campines told the court that Gálvez organized meetings to coordinate the transportation of illicit substances and assigned tasks to various network members. These coordination meetings allegedly took place in hotels in the eastern sector of Panama City and in two neighborhoods in the San Miguelito district. Authorities directly link Gálvez to two drug seizures that occurred in January and February 2023.
Criminal Network Structure and Methods
Prosecutors revealed the existence of a specialized subgroup dedicated to stealing drug shipments from rival criminal organizations. Known as “tumbes,” this violent faction used firearms to threaten competitors and is connected to the theft of several kilos of drugs registered in Pedregal. Another identified network member allegedly served as the payment coordinator, distributing funds for various criminal tasks.
Investigations show payments ranged from 500 to 1,000 dollars for services including surveillance, fuel delivery, and drug transportation. The network initially brought narcotics into Panama through coastal areas of Chepo and Coclé. Pedregal corregimiento functioned as the primary storage and consolidation point before shipments moved to Tocumen International Airport for international distribution.
Legal proceedings advanced significantly Friday night with the court validating the arrests of 59 out of the 60 detained individuals. One apprehension was not legalized due to exceptional circumstances involving proper post-detention control. This validation allowed prosecutors to proceed with formal charges and request preventative measures, setting the stage for a prolonged legal process under Panama’s Accusatory Penal System.
International Reach and Investigation Origins
Friday’s hearing detailed the network’s impressive international scope. Authorities described sophisticated operations using both air and maritime routes, strategically altered luggage at airports, and key points across Panama’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts to traffic cocaine primarily to European markets. The investigation began on January 4, 2023, after authorities started monitoring a group allegedly dedicated to international drug trafficking.
One particularly brazen method involved the manipulation of baggage tags at the international airport recently confirmed by the airport manager. Network members would replace legitimate passenger luggage tags with tags placed on suitcases containing cocaine. These drug-filled bags were then sent through the airport’s regular baggage handling system as if they belonged to actual passengers on outgoing flights.
The investigation began the fourth of January, 2023, when we started following a group allegedly dedicated to international drug trafficking. [Translated from Spanish]
A shipment detected in Spain ultimately triggered international alarms. Court discussions referenced one of twenty-six investigated events where a suitcase arriving at Madrid’s Barajas Airport contained 28 kilos of cocaine discovered by Spanish authorities. The prosecution cited numerous other incidents connected to the network throughout Panama, including drug interceptions, money seizures, and internal drug transfers all aimed at supplying European markets.
More than sixty-five prosecutors and five hundred police agents participated in the national operation spanning Panama East, Panama West, and Veraguas. The scale of law enforcement involvement underscores the significance authorities place on dismantling this particular fico internacional. This case continues to develop as the court examines preventative detention measures for the accused, with further revelations about the network’s operations expected throughout the week.