{"id":17754,"date":"2026-10-08T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=17754"},"modified":"2026-10-08T09:47:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T14:47:38","slug":"10-detained-in-panama-raid-over-environmental-crimes-and-illegal-mining","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/10-detained-in-panama-raid-over-environmental-crimes-and-illegal-mining\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Detained in Panama Raid Over Environmental Crimes and Illegal Mining"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Panamanian authorities arrested 10 people Tuesday during an operation targeting environmental crimes<\/a> Panama officials say caused severe damage to a protected watershed<\/a>. The raid, code-named Operation Piedra Amarilla, unfolded in the Cocl\u00e9 del Norte<\/a> region following aerial surveillance reports and civilian complaints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Attorney General’s Office<\/a> said six Colombian nationals and four Panamanians face charges<\/p>\n\n\n\n

to crimes against natural resources and criminal association. Prosecutors allege the group operated an organized illegal mineral extraction network<\/a> inside a managed resources area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"gold
gold mining tools by MiAmbiente<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Equipment Seized in Cocl\u00e9 del Norte Operation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Investigators recovered dredges, motor pumps, digital scales, electric generators, solar panels, satellite internet equipment, cell phones, and other electronics during the searches. The presence of satellite connectivity and solar power suggests a sustained operation rather than a temporary encampment, according to the Public Ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The operation involved coordination between the Superior Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Environmental Crimes, the National Aeronaval Service, the Environment Ministry, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industries. Authorities documented tree felling, natural resource degradation, and waste contamination linked to mineral extraction activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"illegal
Panamanian law prohibits mining and similar extractive activities within these protected zones by MiAmbiente PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Protected River System Suffers Contamination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Calzones River, a water source inside a protected area designated for managed resources, emerged as a primary damage point. Panamanian law prohibits mining and similar extractive activities within these protected zones. Prosecutors said evidence gathered at the scene indicates the detainees worked in a structured, organized manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civilian tips supplemented official surveillance, demonstrating how community reporting continues to drive enforcement actions against environmental crimes Panama has struggled to curb in remote regions. Cocl\u00e9 del Norte’s dense forests and limited road access make aerial monitoring essential for detecting illegal operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Una publicaci\u00f3n compartida por TVN Noticias (@tvnnoticias)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n