{"id":15442,"date":"2026-08-10T11:48:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T16:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=15442"},"modified":"2026-08-10T14:11:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T19:11:39","slug":"former-dgi-director-publio-de-gracia-detained-in-operation-cuestor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/former-dgi-director-publio-de-gracia-detained-in-operation-cuestor\/","title":{"rendered":"Former DGI Director Publio De Gracia Detained in Operation Cuestor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Anti-corruption prosecutors in Panama intensified their crackdown on former public officials Wednesday when they detained former DGI director Publio De Gracia. The arrest happened during a coordinated nationwide action named Operation Cuestor<\/strong>, which targeted alleged unjust enrichment and money laundering linked to his time leading the country\u2019s tax authority. De Gracia\u2019s romantic partner was also taken into custody as agents from the Judicial Investigation Directorate and the National Intelligence Directorate carried out simultaneous raids in Panama and Panama Oeste provinces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former DGI Director Detained in Anti-Corruption Sweep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Judicial sources confirmed the apprehension came after months of quiet investigation by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor\u2019s Office. Authorities said the operation stemmed from evidence gathered after a 2024 audit raised red flags about De Gracia\u2019s finances. The former DGI director detained Wednesday oversaw Panama\u2019s General Directorate of Revenue<\/a> from 2019 until mid-2024, a period when the entity was supposed to tighten fiscal oversight and boost collections. Instead, prosecutors now allege that public funds were diverted, creating a patrimonial injury to the state of $724,682.39.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Former
Former DGI director Publio De Gracia Credit MEF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The detention of the former DGI director was not an isolated move. His partner, whose identity was not immediately released, was apprehended in parallel proceedings. According to the Attorney General\u2019s Office, both individuals face charges that could bring severe penalties if proven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The proceedings are tied to a complex financial scheme where the accused failed to justify a significant asset buildup during their tenure,” [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

an official familiar with the case said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audit Uncovered $16.3 Million in Unexplained Wealth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What triggered the high-profile arrest of the former DGI director<\/a> detained this week goes back to a damaging report from the Comptroller General of the Republic. In May 2024, auditors submitted a criminal complaint against De Gracia, flagging a patrimonial imbalance the state put at $16.3 million. The Comptroller ordered an immediate seizure of assets for that same amount, setting the stage for the criminal inquiry that culminated in Operation Cuestor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That broader audit painted a picture of wealth that skyrocketed beyond what a public salary could sustain. While the current charges focus on a slice of that total, the $724,682.39 figure, prosecutors have not ruled out expanding the scope of their case. Former DGI director<\/a> detained amid such large discrepancies highlights vulnerabilities in Panama\u2019s internal revenue systems, where a top official could allegedly manipulate controls for personal gain. The Comptroller General\u2019s findings also triggered parallel administrative reviews inside the DGI, though those processes were not detailed Wednesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n