PANAMA CITY, Panama – Héctor Brands, the former director of the Panamanian Sports Institute (Pandeportes) and ex-lawmaker, was denied entry into the United States on Friday, October 24, after authorities revoked his visa upon arrival. The incident occurred as Brands faces an ongoing financial investigation in Panama concerning his tenure at the public sports agency.
According to sources close to the investigation who spoke with TVN-2.com, Brands departed from Tocumen International Airport without issue, as no travel ban was registered against him. He boarded a flight bound for Miami. Upon landing in the United States, however, immigration officials informed him that his visa had been canceled. He was subsequently refused entry and returned to Panama on a flight later that same Friday evening.
Ongoing Financial Investigation in Panama
The travel refusal comes amidst a formal investigation by the Panamanian Public Ministry, initiated on September 3, 2025. The probe focuses on alleged irregularities during Brands’s leadership of Pandeportes, specifically examining the awarding of multi-million dollar contracts to companies linked to his family circle.
As part of the investigative steps, authorities have executed search warrants and conducted verifications at Pandeportes, the Public Registry, the Mayor’s Office of San Miguelito, and the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic. The investigation remains in its preliminary stages, and Brands has not been formally charged nor subjected to any precautionary measures. Authorities are, however, investigating potential unjust enrichment.
The investigation formal is already underway,
Panama’s Attorney General, Luis Carlos Gómez, confirmed to local media [Translated from Spanish].
Financial Analysis Reveals Irregular Patterns
Data from Panama’s Financial Analysis Unit (UAF) has been pivotal to the case. The unit processed 39 reports of suspicious operations, encompassing 38 bank accounts and more than 28,000 transactions. The financial analysis detected an irregular pattern, with deposits totaling $27.9 million and withdrawals of $28.3 million conducted between personal accounts and corporations linked to the former official.
In September, the case file was formally transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office Against Organized Crime, which is now leading the investigative proceedings. This move indicates the potential scale and complexity of the alleged financial activities.
Brands’s Political and Administrative Background
Héctor Brands served as a deputy in the National Assembly from 2009 to 2014. Later, between April 2021 and February 2023, he took a leave of absence from his legislative duties to assume the role of director of Pandeportes. The UAF report specifically scrutinizes contracts and contract addendums approved during this latter period.
Last month, Brands, accompanied by his lawyer, appeared at the Attorney General’s Office to review the case file after the investigation was officially confirmed. Attempts to obtain a statement from his legal defense regarding the U.S. entry denial were unsuccessful.
The visa revocation by U.S. authorities is a significant development, often reflecting international scrutiny of individuals involved in legal proceedings. For ongoing coverage of Panamanian legal affairs, you can follow the Panamanian Public Ministry.