Panama’s border service has initiated a major new security operation in its remote southeastern province. The Servicio Nacional de Fronteras (Senafront) officially launched Operation Steel Shield from its Eastern Brigade headquarters in Metetí, Darién, this week.
Led by Senafront Director General Larry Solís Velásquez, the operation focuses on two core institutional pillars. Officials say it aims to strengthen territorial control and enhance citizen security across the sensitive frontier zone.
Multi-Phase Security Strategy Deployed
The operation involves a coordinated deployment of specialized units across land and sea. Senafront’s Special Forces teams will conduct reconnaissance and territorial control missions in remote Pacific sector areas, acting as a preventive component.
Simultaneously, Special Boat Units will carry out interdiction and maritime control operations. The Pacific Battalion has been tasked with community integration work, seeking active participation from local residents in the security strategy.
“This operation responds to the two fundamental pillars of our institution: territorial control and citizen security,” said Director General Larry Solís Velásquez. [Translated from Spanish] “The goal is to guarantee population protection, strengthen healthy coexistence, and promote a culture of peace in our border responsibility zones.”
Solís emphasized that Operation Steel Shield will be executed alongside other government entities. This inter-agency coordination integrates institutional capacities as outlined in the national Plan Firmeza, a broader security framework established by the Government of Panama.
The push seeks to fortify security management and maintain order in a region of strategic importance. Darién province contains the infamous Darién Gap, a dense and often lawless jungle area that has long posed significant security and migration challenges.
Focus on Community Integration and Prevention
Authorities are framing the operation as more than just a law enforcement action. The community integration component led by the Pacific Battalion represents a key preventive aspect of the strategy.
By fostering local cooperation, the Servicio Nacional de Fronteras (Senafront) hopes to build sustainable security from within communities. This approach to control territorial relies on intelligence gathering and public trust.
Success in the Darién region is considered critical for Panama’s overall border security. The director general and his command staff are personally overseeing the initial phases of the deployment. Officials have not provided a specific end date for Operation Steel Shield, suggesting it may become a sustained campaign.
Its launch signals a renewed focus on a complex border area where national security intersects with transnational crime and migration flows. The coming weeks will test the operation’s effectiveness in deterring illicit activity and improving safety for Darién’s residents.