{"id":9343,"date":"2025-11-13T19:41:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T00:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=9343"},"modified":"2025-11-13T10:38:56","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T15:38:56","slug":"former-maritime-official-denies-link-to-massive-200m-cocaine-seizure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/former-maritime-official-denies-link-to-massive-200m-cocaine-seizure\/","title":{"rendered":"Director of Panama Maritime Chamber Denies Link to Massive 200M Cocaine Seizure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Panamanian authorities intercepted a vessel carrying 13.5 tons of cocaine in the central Pacific Ocean<\/a>, a historic seizure valued at over 200 million dollars. The National Aeronaval Service<\/a> captured the Tanzanian-flagged boat named Oceanic Tug near San Jose Island in the Las Perlas Archipelago on Sunday, November 9. This massive drug bust has ignited a public controversy after a former maritime official claimed he sold the vessel last year, distancing himself from the illicit operation.<\/p>\n

Official Details of the Maritime Seizure<\/h2>\n

Officials reported the seizure of 579 packages of cocaine from the Oceanic Tug. Ten foreign nationals were arrested during the operation. The vessel had reportedly sailed from Jurad\u00f3, in Colombia’s Department of Choc\u00f3<\/a>, with its final destination being the United States. The detained individuals include four Ecuadorians, three Nicaraguans, one Venezuelan, one Peruvian, and one Colombian. All are seasoned mariners between 70 and 73 years old.<\/p>\n

They now face formal charges for international drug trafficking and remain in provisional detention. Panamanian authorities assert the drugs were ultimately bound for Mexico before heading to the United States. This route is part of a transnational narcotics pipeline currently under joint investigation by Panama, Colombia, and international anti-drug agencies.<\/p>\n

Former Official Denies Ownership of Seized Vessel<\/h2>\n

The seizure took a controversial turn when the boat was publicly linked to Pablo Torres Chong, who until this week served as a director of the Panama Maritime Chamber. Following media reports, Torres Chong issued a formal statement vehemently denying any current connection to the Oceanic Tug.<\/p>\n

I have no type of relationship or link with the mentioned vessel since the year 2023. [Translated from Spanish]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He stated the boat was sold on March 22, 2023, with all corresponding legal formalities completed. Torres Chong further explained that the vessel was subsequently removed from Panama’s Public Vessel Registry. Its registration with the Panama Maritime Authority was definitively canceled, he said, and it no longer flies the Panamanian flag but that of Tanzania.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Foco Panama (@focopanama)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n