Panamanian authorities have arrested 26 people suspected of using the Port of Balboa to smuggle cocaine to Australia and Europe through international container shipping routes.
The arrests followed a two-year investigation involving Panama’s National Police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF) and other international partners. Authorities said the investigation uncovered links between the alleged network and several cocaine seizures in Australia and Europe since October 2024.
Investigators believe the group used legitimate shipping operations to move drugs across borders. The network allegedly involved corrupt port workers and contractors who placed cocaine inside refrigerated containers before export.
Panamanian authorities carried out 37 searches across the country on July 7, arresting 26 suspects linked to operations at the Port of Balboa.The investigation has already led to the seizure of more than one tonne of cocaine in Australia and Europe.
The Port of Balboa, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, is one of Latin America’s largest container hubs and connects major trade routes between Asia and the Americas. With millions of containers passing through Panama every year, authorities warn that criminal groups continue to target legitimate maritime infrastructure to hide illegal cargo.
