Panama's anti-drug authorities seized 721 kilos of cocaine over the past two days in three operations carried out in different parts of the country, and arrested two Colombians, apparently linked to one of these cases, officials said. In one of the raids, carried out on the El Longoronal beach in the town of Guararé in the central province of Los Santos, authorities seized 394 kilos of cocaine on Wednesday and arrested two Colombians apparently related to the stash, said National Police Commissioner Osvaldo Morales. He said 72 kilos of cocaine were found hidden in four bags on a boat with two outboard motors, one of 70 horsepower and another of 30 horsepower, which was beached and abandoned by the Colombians, on the edge of the beach. The two Colombians, whose names were not disclosed by police, were arrested in a wooded area near the beach, and after searching the boat police discovered it had a false double bottom concealing another 322 kilos of cocaine, bringing the total for this operation to 394 kilos. In another raid on Tuesday afternoon authorities seized 259 kilos of cocaine found inside a boat drifting along the Upper Coast of Colon, near the town of Santa Isabel, Colón province. Finally, in the third operation authorities seized 68 kilos of cocaine on Tuesday night in a container that was passing through the Port of Balboa, near this capital. The container had 363 bags of cocoa (chocolate) as cargo, and two of those were painted black and inside there were two bags suitcases containing 68 kilos of cocaine. The container came from Ecuador and was destined for Belgium. In the latter two cases no arrests were made and authorities are investigating to determine the owners of the drug and its recipients. (Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: Over the past two years Panamanian authorities have seized about 50 tons of cocaine per year total, in both 2009 and 2010. Some busts are bigger, some are smaller. In the past two days these three seizures represent 721 kilos, or 1,598 pounds, or .79 tons. In short, slightly under average for a "normal" week in Panama. It is estimated that more than 250 tons of cocaine passes through Panama every year, which means Panama is seizing about 20% of the total that's going by. Hey, you can't get it all, right?

Police officers found a drug shipment of 259 kilos of cocaine hidden under an overturned boat. The seizure occurred on the upper coast of the province of Colon, in the community of Palenque, officials said. This seizure was accomplished thanks to a citizen complaint, however there were no arrests. Likewise, the police reported the seizure of another 75 kilos of cocaine in Playa El Longoronal of Guarare, province of Los Santos. (Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: I got a heads up about this seizure last night which included a new acronym (at least for me, anyway). This bust was made by the "UTOA" = "Unidad Tactical de Operaciones Antidroga" (Tactical Anti Drug Operations Unit). They are either new or they keep a very low profile. Try doing a Google search on "UTOA Panama" and you get practically nothing. Well, now you will get this article, and not much else. Anyway, for what it's worth. In case you're interested, Palenque is located here. Click on that link to get a Google Earth placemark.

Officials from the First Anti Drug Prosecutor's office conducted a series of actions in Western part of the province of Panama in search of other members of the criminal network related to the seizure of a ton of cocaine on Saturday. Sources close to the investigation said officials are investigating the possible involvement of other people with this shipment of drugs, found on two vessels in Chame. According to reports, they suspect the area is used by vessels simulating fishing activities in order to move drugs. The reports detail that the drugs came from Colombia in mid-draft vessels and then it is transferred to smaller vessels that take it ashore. More than one vessel is used in this activity to keep all of the drugs from being confiscated in one operation. Prosecutors made more raids and searches in El Progreso de La Chorrera, Las Colinas de Dorasol, in Nuevo Chorrillo, and Bello Amor. (La Prensa)

Editor's Comment: One ton of cocaine. Ho-hum. In Panama in the past couple of years the authorities have seized about 50 tons per year, or about a ton a week on average.

Fifty kilos of cocaine valued at more than two million dollars were detected by officials of the National Customs Authority in Puerto Balboa, on the Panamanian Pacific. Customs reported the drug were found in a refrigerated container carrying shrimp. Retention of container, which was in transit from Ecuador to Spain, came after inspectors of the Global Program of Customs Container Control were alerted by an anonymous call. Once given the alarm, it was brought to the Customs Technical Container Inspection Unit, whose officials (in charge of inspecting containers using a scanner) detected irregularities and proceeded to open the container for a physical examination, during which the drugs were detected in two bags. The case was referred to the Anti Drug Prosecutor's Office. (La Critica)

Editor's Comment: It is estimated that in the United States $68 billion dollars is spent every year on illegal drugs. While there are frequent searches and seizures, the vast majority is getting through undetected.

Domiciano Samaniego, implicated together with Demetrio Clua in a case of alleged forgery of documents, was sentenced along with four others to 72 months in prison for the crime of international drug trafficking, according to the court of second instance (appeal) 99, of 25 March 2007. Given this decision, the defense lawyers announced an appeal and the case went to Supreme Court judge Jerome Mejia. Samaniego was investigated by the Second Anti Drug Prosecutor in this case. He is currently being investigated for allegedly falsifying documents, after blank documents with seals from the Office of Land Registry (Cadastre) were found in Clua's office, located in the Torres de Las Americas in Punta Pacifica. It was learned from a judicial source that the director of Cadastre, Anabelle Villamonte, confirmed in a statement these documents are false because they used stamps that are not used in the entity. In this case both defendants invoked Article 25 of the Constitution, deciding not to incriminate themselves. This investigation will be sent in the coming days to the Office of the Auxiliary Prosecutor. Clua is also being investigated in the case of the alleged intervention of the email account belonging to the Minister of the Presidency, Jimmy Papadimitriu. (Panama America)

Editor's Comment: In the Panamanian legal system, when they say the "court of first instance" or something similar, they usually mean a lower level or circuit court that originally heard and decided the case. When the case goes to a Superior Tribunal on appeal, they call that the "court of second instance," as in this case. After that, any appeals go to the Supreme Court, as in this case. Normally Samaniego's case would have languished in the Supreme Court for years, but now because of the political connection to the "hacker" case and the falsification of documents, it will get catapulted to the front of the line.

BY LOUISE DICKSON, TIMES COLONIST - Two men arrested in connection with a $26-million cocaine bust in Port Hardy in March 2010 have been convicted of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Scott Pedersen, 39, a commercial diver and former Port Hardy fisherman, and Mexican citizen Vincente Serrano-Hernandez, 38, are to be sentenced next Monday. After deliberating for a full day, a sombre-looking B.C. Supreme Court jury filed into court and delivered their verdict. Three women jurors left the courtroom in tears. During the trial, which began in May, the jury heard the two accused were on board the Huntress when it sailed from Panama to Port Hardy, transporting 1,001 kilograms of cocaine. The cocaine was brought ashore on Shushartie Bay in 37 duffel bags on March 6. The Crown argued that the quality and value of the cocaine clearly indicated it was for drug trafficking, not for personal consumption. The Crown also described the unusual circumstances surrounding the Huntress when it was seen by a patrol plane on a routine surveillance flight March 5 at Cape Scott. It was running without lights and travelling along the unsheltered west coast of Vancouver Island. When the crew called the sailboat on the marine channel, the man who responded to a hail could not find the vessel's call sign or registration papers. The boat did not respond to a subsequent hail asking when it would arrive in Port Hardy. Three hours later, using infrared radar, the surveillance crew captured a rendezvous between the Huntress and a smaller boat, which made two to four trips between the beach and the sailboat. Defence lawyers Robert Mulligan and Jeremy Mills told jurors the Crown's evidence in identifying the sailboat was not good enough.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I received the following in response to today's article about the US registered sailboat the "Intaka" - "Dear Don; First of all, info on U.S. registration. U.S. documentation has to be renewed (no fee) each year to keep it active. However, there is no requirement for a U.S. boat to have national documentation - one can also use a State registration. And no penalty for letting it lapse, other than having to pay a fee to restart registration after a lapse. For international cruising, however, U.S. documentation is considered to be "better".

A foreign national who buys a U.S. documented boat is NOT ALLOWED to keep up the U.S. registration as the new owner. That said, it is not at all unusual to see an apparently U.S. registered/flagged boat legitimately owned by a non-US resident. Many, many of the wealthy Colombians at Club de Pesca, a private yacht club in Cartagena, avoid paying heavy Colombian fees and taxes by purchasing U.S. flagged sail and power boats and never re-registering as Colombian vessels. Same in Costa Rica, from our personal experience. We have also met many Europeans who start their circumnavigation by flying to the Caribbean, buying a used sailboat of U.S. or other non-European registry, never re-registering in their home country, and thereby avoiding the hefty E.U. VAT (value added tax). The system of registration and flagging of recreational vessels is pretty loose, as you can see.

You have castigated Panamanian authorities for letting Javier Martin check in with a forged registration - but I am SURE it happens in many countries ALL the time! I am not at all applauding this practice - we keep up our U.S. registration religiously - but just letting you know the reality of the situation. In 12 years of cruising Latin America, both in the Pacific and Caribbean, we have only ever heard of ONE person who was questioned on his documentation upon checking in - ironically in Panama - and it was because the boat was registered under the name of a corporation, with no personal name of owner indicated (perfectly legitimate in the U.S.) He had to provide a notarized statement attesting to the fact that he, as president of the corporation, was the actual owner. The various National maritime authorities in Latin America don't spend alot of time and effort regulating pleasure boats, and don't generally have the resources or infrastructure to do much, if any, enforcement.

Now, on the subject of INTAKA, we believe she may have recently left the same boatyard where we had some work done in Cartagena! Our contractor was also hired to do a quick repaint job on a big, white steel sailboat which my partner swears is the same one shown in your pictures. Our contractor mentioned the owner was Spanish, and the last day he saw him he was accompanied by a young Colombian gal. If it is the same boat, it just went back in the water on July 1 or 2. We can try to get whatever details he may have about this boat, and will let you know if, indeed, it was INTAKA. When you get hauled out, you must provide boat registration info. If it turns out to be INTAKA, I'll let you know.

It sure sounds like someone knew what was being transported on INTAKA and tipped off the authorities!! Panama does NOT routinely stop and inspect boats, we can assure you from long experience. Best regards, M & R, aboard the (some details snipped)."

Thanks, Guys: OK, so it's no big deal, and in fact it's even commonplace, to see a sailboat that was formerly registered in the US running around the Caribbean, and then the new owners never register the boat in their home countries to avoid taxes. Wouldn't it be relatively easy for countries like Colombia or Panama or Costa Rica to simply do a quick search (like I did) to discover that the US registration is no longer valid? Anyway, I understand there are limited assets and resources to chase down random sailboats running around, and people are just taking advantage of the lax enforcement and loopholes, like they do everywhere. As far as the repairs and the departure of the Intaka from Cartagena, I would not be at all surprised if by now that repair yard manager is a pretty popular guy with the Colombian authorities. I'm sure the backtracking on the Intaka's path is getting a pretty hard look. Above all, be safe. And, thanks for the quick lesson on US boat registrations.

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Early Friday morning officers from Panama's National Naval Air Service (SENAN) intercepted and searched a 61 foot steel hulled sailboat in the Atlantic ocean near the province of Colon. Aboard they discovered fourteen 55-gallon drums filled with liquid cocaine. Two people were arrested, the ship's captain who is a Spanish citizen, and a Colombian woman who was accompanying him. The boat had departed from Cartagena, Colombia and was headed for Honduras. When I heard about this seizure I immediately became interested because there are many similarities with this situation, and the case of Javier Martin and the murders of Don North and Jean Pierre Bouhard. Although I only had preliminary information, there was enough to whet my appetite so I decided to drop what I was doing and go over the Colon to check it out, and to see what I could learn. (more)

The National Naval Service (Senan) of Panama seized more than three tons of liquid cocaine found on a US flagged sailboat and arrested the Spanish captain and his Colombian passenger. The boat was intercepted this morning by the SENAN in the Atlantic waters near the province of Colon, North of the Capital, said Vladimir Rodriguez, a spokesman for the security agency. The US flagged sailboat came from the Colombian city of Cartagena and was on its way to Honduras. The captain, a Spanish citizen, was arrested as well as his only companion, a Colombian, whose identities were not released by the official spokesman. The cocaine, in liquid form, was stored in fourteen 55-gallon drums (208 liters) each, and experts estimate the seizure exceeds three tons, said the spokesman said the Panamanian security agency. "This is the first time that the National Naval has seized liquid cocaine this year," Rodriguez said. The two detainees will be made available to authorities for investigation in connection with this case, the spokesman added. (Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: Obviously, I need the name of the sailboat and the "Spanish" skipper. It looks like I was right on the money with this "Spanish Armada" thing. Bingo.

In a press conference officials of the National Naval Air Service (SENAN) reported the seizure of 1,800 kilos of cocaine in the province of Colon. Panama's Security Minister José Raúl Mulino welcomed the news, saying it is the largest drug seizure so far this year. (Panama America)

Editor's Comment: That would be about 3,968 pounds of cocaine, or almost two tons, with a street value in the billions of dollars. Big bust...

The Argentine Coast Guard seized 444 kilos of high purity cocaine hidden in a US flagged sailboat, manned by two Spaniards who escaped, officials said. The drugs were bound for Spain or another European country, the case was reported to the Spanish authorities, said the security minister, Nilda Garre, during a news conference with authorities of the Naval Prefecture (coast guard). They explained the drug shipment was discovered as a result of the suspicions aroused when the sailboat named the "Traful" made a call for help due to a fault in the hull and was found by the Coast Guard in an area far away from their declared sail route from the port of Plata, 60 kilometers South of the capital of Argentina, they said. The vessel, capable of sailing at sea, was found near the port of Olivos, on the Rio de la Plata, 15 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, when their declared route was to the Uruguayan resort of Piriápolis, located northeast. The Coast Guard towed the boat to the port of Buenos Aires, but because of suspicions they asked for judicial authorization to search the boat, where they found the hidden drugs, as well as pistols and machine guns, said Garre. He said the two crew members of the "Traful", both Spaniards, left the boat before the search was conducted under the guise of shopping for parts, so they could not be arrested. The minister said that "all" of the security forces of Argentina, a "transit country" for drugs, "have reinforced to the maximum" the fight against drug trafficking criminals whose increasingly are "more creative" to commit that crime.

"At first glance the Traful appears to be a sporty sailboat, and harmless, but it was carrying a load of 444 kilos of high purity cocaine, which would amount to even more when mixed with other components before being sold, and in addition the crew were heavily armed," he said. (La Prensa)

Editor's Comment: Let's see, a couple of Spaniards, in a sailboat, running drugs, heavily armed, and they got away. Now, where have I seen something like that before?

The National Air Service (Senan) of Panama reported on Monday they had seized 452 kilos of marijuana that was abandoned by alleged drug traffickers from Colombia, along a stretch of beach in the Panamanian province of the Darién, on the Pacific coast. The marijuana, which was packed in ten large bundles, was abandoned early on Sunday in Punta Garachiné, Darien, about 200 kilometers southeast of the capital, by four drug traffickers traveling in a traditional boat who intended to introduce the drugs into Panamanian territory, said the SENAN Commissioner Juan Pino. The drug traffickers, who fled, never reached the shore, but the managed to hide the drugs, said Pino. So far this year Senan has seized 9.103 kilos of cocaine and 452 kilos of marijuana, said the National Director of Naval Air Operations of the Senan, Ramon Notato López. In the same period they have arrested 15 people and captured 12 vessels in various anti-drug operations, according to Lopez. Last Saturday, the State Border Service (SENAFRONT) of Panama destroyed 4.406 marijuana plants at an old coffee farm near the border with Costa Rica and arrested a citizen of that nationality. (Telemetro)

Panama's Anti Drug Prosecutor, Javier Caraballo, reported this afternoon he has press formal charges for money laundering against the eight people involved in the seizure of about $2 million dollars found hidden in an apartment on Calle 50. Last Thursday, June 9, the Office for Drug Control and the National Police raided an apartment in the Bahia building on Calle 50 in the district of San Francisco. During the search the money was found in two suitcases in one of the apartments in the building. In addition, money was also found in two suitcases the suspects threw out of the window of the apartment that landed in the pool of the building. This afternoon, in a press conference, officials from the National Police and the Anti Drug Prosecutor's Office disclosed they have started an investigation to determine if, in fact, there was any type of exchange of drugs in this case. The authorities did not rule out the suspected traffickers use countries such as Panama as trading platforms to launder money. Meanwhile, the prosecutor Caraballo said he has ordered the arrest and detention of the eight suspects involved in this case. According to the official report, so far in 2011 law enforcement authorities have seized 19 tons of drugs in Panama. (La Prensa)

More than $2 million dollars in cash was seized and five Panamanians were arrested during an operation carried out yesterday by officials from the Anti Drug Prosecutor's Office and the National Police in the Bahía building on Calle 50 in the neighborhood of San Francisco in Panama City. Public Ministry sources said the money was found in two suitcases inside one of the apartments of the building. Money was also found in two other suitcases the suspects threw out of the window of the apartment that landed in the pool in the social area of the apartment building. (Prensa)

Editor's Comment: In Panama, the drugs go North, and the money comes South. International law enforcement agencies have been making it harder and harder over the years for the drug traffickers to launder the mountains of cash generated by the sale of illegal drugs, so now they are forced to smuggle the physical cash back to Colombia (or wherever) and to try to find a way to invest the money to make it legal and clean. Two million dollars might sound like a lot of money, but the sale of cocaine generates billions of dollars every year.

Two Colombian citizens are being sought by the Second Anti Prosecutor for being linked to the seizure of $2.3 million dollars found hidden in three suitcases on a plane that came from Honduras on 7 May 2011. In the police action seven people were arrested inside of the airplane with registration number N-551MF. The operation followed to a luxurious apartment in Paitilla, where two people were captured. To date, nine persons have been arrested, of which two are of American nationality, two Guatemalans, four Colombians, and one Panamanian Customs official. The Anti Drug Prosecutor's Office charged these people with money laundering. (La Critica)

Editor's Comment: The aircraft's tail number was incorrect in the original article as it appeared in La Critica.

Agents of the Special Counter Terrorism Forces of the National Police arrested five armed men on Thursday who were in a condominium on Calle 50, informed the entity. The police also seized drugs and sports bags containing bales of $100 bills, according to the report of the National Police announced this afternoon via Twitter. Staff from the Anti Drug Prosecutor's Office rushed to the scene in support of this action by the police. (Prensa)

A Colombian man has been arrested for his connection with the seizure of 79 kilos of cocaine on Sunday evening in the area of Punta del Medio, Chagres District, Costa Abajo de Colon. The foreigner was carrying a suitcase filled with the illegal substance and was found in a house that was raided. The operation was conducted by officials from the Anti Drug Prosecutors Office in Colon and Kuna Yala, with the collaboration of the National Police. The cocaine was taken to the headquarters of the Judicial Investigation Department in Ancon. It is being investigated to determine if this shipment is related to the drugs seized Thursday night in a boat, in the area of Rio Indio. (El Siglo)

The eight aircraft belonging to the Albrook Flight school, which are in the custody of the National Air Service (SENAN) can not be used by students for their practices. This, according to the Director of this entity, Belsio González. Gonzalez said these aircraft will be used by the institution to conduct patrols. He said of the eight aircraft, six are in good condition, while the other two have to be repaired. A criminal network that moved drugs for the 30th and 57th Fronts of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was disbanded on 12 April by the police. The flight school was being used as a cover. The flight school had been used as a cover for drug trafficking operations for more than a year. The Aviation Institute was able to obtain sufficient funds to serve as a facade. This announcement was made ​​by the Director of SENAN as part of the graduation ceremony for 324 new police officers, of which 28 will be assigned to the SENAN. (TVN Noticias)

"Assassins are being trained in our country (Panama)," said Panama's Public Security Minister, Jose Raul Mulino, during a graduation ceremony for 300 new members of the National Police, although he said he does not know if it is foreigners or Panamanians who are involved in the training. Mulino said the increase in these kinds of cases (murder by assassination) is attributed to "the enormous amount of drugs being seized, which almost always results in violent deaths." The security minister also said these kinds of crimes are becoming more common in the Western sector of the Province of Panama, where "accounts are being settled." (Panama America)

Panama's Security Minister José Raúl Mulino

Editor's Comment: On Sunday morning an assassin walked up to a Colombian woman and blew her away at point blank range as she was entering her home in a residential neighborhood. There were witnesses present, and the assassination was even captured on closed circuit security cameras, but the killer acted like he could care less.

The former head of Civil Aviation, Eustacio Fabrega, suggested on the channel 2 TVN morning news today that the Civil Aviation Authority should appoint an administrator of the aviation Albrook Flight School, which was closed because of the links with its owner to alleged drug trafficking, to recover the funds invested there and to train the students. Fabrega said it is necessary for students of that school to continue their training because there is a shortfall of trained pilots in Panama with the growth of domestic airlines that require skilled and well trained pilots. Fabrega also reiterated his concern because so far no one has seen the reports indicating that Rio Hato is the best place to build the new international airport, and what's more the government should define what they intend to do there, because on the Panama Compra website the terms of reference have already been published. The former head of Civil Aviation is of the opinion that more resources should be invested in the Albrook Airport. (TVN Noticias)

The two American pilots Kenneth Chonoski and Carl Moody, accused of allegedly smuggling $2.3 million dollars in cash, were transferred to the La Joya prison. The accused might end up spending months in prison, while their situation is decided. The pilots were arrested on 7 May 2011 after flying three passengers on a charter aircraft from Honduras to Panama and the money was found on the plane. (El Siglo)

Panama's Anti Drug Prosecutor has provisionally given fourteen aircraft owned by the Albrook Flight School to the National Naval Air Service (SENAN). Authorities are searching for the school's owner, Isaac Mosquera, for his alleged links to drug trafficking, and the National Police are asking the public to help with information and are offering a reward. The aircraft may be used for authorized flights, in order to keep their engines in condition and to prevent damage from the lack of mechanical operations. (TVN Noticias)

In the region of Paso Canoas there are areas along the border between Panama and Costa Rica used for the illegal trafficking of drugs, the smuggling of contraband, and illegal human trafficking, confirmed Panama's Public Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino after completing a tour today of several districts in the province of Chiriqui. Accordingly, Mulino asked the public to not cooperate with the Chiriqui drug gangs. "This is necessary and citizen input will help to keep the miscreants from entering their communities, and convincing people to support them with the movement of drugs." "If we do not eradicate the drug trade, it won't help at all if the government invests money for new police officers, vehicles, aircraft, trucks, boats, police stations, and naval air stations," said Mulino. During the tour, Mulino participated in a meeting of the Provincial Council, where he announced the construction of a new headquarters in the district of Remedios, and detailed spending on new security infrastructure of $3.1 million dollars. (La Estrella)

AUSTRALIAN, South American and Central American law enforcement agencies have dismantled an international drug syndicate, combining to arrest 14 people for the supply and distribution of cocaine to and within Australia. Authorities took simultaneous action on 27 May in response to the importation into Australia of more than 50kg of cocaine, chemically suspended in hydraulic oil. The Australian Federal Police (AFP), in conjunction with Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and Queensland Police Service, have charged a 38-year-old Australian man and two Colombian nationals, aged 30 and 42, at Mackay, in northern Queensland. The three men face a total of 26 charges and have been remanded to appear in Mackay Magistrates Court on Monday. All three men have been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A third Colombian national, aged 24, was also arrested in Mackay overnight with investigations ongoing.

On the same date, Colombia’s Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad (DAS) arrested seven Colombian nationals with charges including drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit a crime. Panama authorities arrested three Panama nationals, who face a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment for international drug trafficking charges.

The AFP commenced the operation in September 2009, utilising its International Network. The method of cocaine concealment was highly sophisticated, the illicit drug infused in more than 390 litres of hydraulic oil. It will be alleged the drug syndicate had ‘chemists’ in Colombia and Australia capable of concealing and then extracting the illicit drug. The cocaine was present in 17 barrels, hidden amongst a total consignment of 600 barrels of hydraulic oil. The imported cocaine was destined for Australia’s major eastern cities. AFP Manager Brisbane Office, Mark Walters, said the results of the successful law enforcement operation would be widespread.

"The significance of this operation is more than just a large seizure of cocaine it’s also about the lasting damage this will inflict on transnational organised crime and Australia’s illicit drug trade,” Commander Walters said. “This operation has dismantled a cocaine syndicate at every level, from the organisers, investors and financiers to the dealers peddling these drugs on our streets. "We’ve choked the drug supply at the source in South America, apprehended the facilitators in Central America, we’ve taken out the major players of an organised crime syndicate within Australia and we’ve put the drug distribution networks on notice in Australia’s major cities.” It will be alleged that the Australian base of the syndicate was in the Mackay region of northern Queensland.

Australian authorities intercepted the cocaine-laced oil when it first arrived in Melbourne by sea cargo on 10 May, 2011, monitoring the consignment as it was ferried to Brisbane and then transported by rail to Mackay. Customs and Border Protection National Manager Enforcement Operations, Kaylene Zakharoff, said the operation demonstrated the strength of Australia’s law enforcement in combating illegal activity. "These detections should send a strong warning to other potential importers of illegal drugs that, no matter how sophisticated the concealment, their importation will be intercepted,” Ms Zakharoff said. “Our officers are highly trained in the detection of concealed drugs and this operation demonstrates the strength of these skills combined with quality targeting and search efforts.”
On the evening of 27 May, AFP, Customs and Border Protection and Queensland Police executed a total of seven search warrants in the Mackay region, police seizing the cocaine-oil consignment and hundreds of litres of chemicals. It will be alleged that the chemicals, including acids and solvents, were intended for the drug extraction process. Detective Superintendent Steve Holahan from Queensland Police Services’ State Drug Investigation Unit said the operation highlights the investigative and intelligence capabilities of multi-agency partnerships. “A key focus for all law enforcement agencies is the trafficking and supply of dangerous and illicit drugs such as cocaine. "The success of this joint operation has caused a disruption to an international crime syndicate,” he said. The Australian strike also initiated law enforcement action in South America and Central America, activity focused on the cities of Medellin and Panama City. Australian authorities also investigated the intended destination of the drugs. In a second phase of the operation, the AFP has this morning executed three search warrants in Melbourne. AFP investigations are ongoing. (Daily Mercury)

A man jumped from the second floor of a building in Hato Pintado, village of Pueblo Nuevo, district of Panama, in an attempt to escape from the authorities. The incident occurred this morning, when the Anti Drug Prosecutor Javier Caraballo conducted an operation to search several apartments in the Ecco Tower building in Hato Pintado. According to Caraballo, a man jumped from the building with the intention of landing in the building's pool, but he missed and got hurt upon landing. The individual was removed from the scene on a stretcher. His identity was not revealed, but it was said he was one of the most wanted. The Prosecutor Caraballo avoided giving details about the operation, saying only it was part of an action against drug trafficking in a joint operation working together with Colombia and Australia. In another case, Caraballo confirmed they are offering a reward to anyone who provides information leading to the capture of Isaac Mosquera, the owner of the Albrook Flying School, which was closed for allegedly being linked to drug trafficking. (TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: I think they got the name of the flight school on Albrook wrong in this article. Wasn't it like the "Albrook Flight Institute" or something like that? Ah, that's it - the "Superior Institute of Aviation - Albrook Flight School" was the name.

The operation was implemented in several places at once. About six locations were taken over by Special Operations / Anti Drug units of the National Police as part of an effort to dismantle a drug trafficking ring. The raids took place simultaneously in Hato Pintado, Bethania, Mañanitas, Tocumen, Las Acacias, Rio Abajo, and others. The operation is headed by the Anti Drug Prosecutor Javier Caraballo. Some suspects were arrested in Hato Pintado, and one of the suspected traffickers was removed from the scene on a stretcher. (Telemetro)

A shipment of 255 kilos of cocaine was seized by Panamanian authorities in the western province of Chiriqui, reported the regional director of Customs, Abdiel Lezcano. The official said the shipment was intercepted Wednesday in an articulated truck by customs agents, as it approached a checkpoint in Guabala, in the area of Tolé, province of Chiriqui. According Lezcano the drugs were being transported to the border with Costa Rica. The drugs were hidden in a double bottom and camouflaged with DVDs to avoid detection by the guards. During the operation, Customs officers also arrested the driver of the articulated truck, whose identity was not disclosed, but he was identified as a Panamanian. The detainee and the evidence was submitted to the competent authorities to deepen the investigation. So far this year, Panamanian law enforcement agencies have seized about 13 tons of drugs, mostly cocaine. (La Estrella)

The security forces of Guatemala arrested a Mexican citizen when she tried to leave this country for Panama with $260,157 in cash, apparently the product of money laundering, reported the National Civil Police (PNC). A police spokesman told reporters the Mexican woman, identified as Elisa Sarai Huajaca, 33, was arrested on Wednesday on the premises of the La Aurora international airport in Guatemala City. She had the money hidden in two suitcases, police said. The Public Prosecutor (OTP) accuses the Mexican of money laundering because she could not state the origin of the seized cash. According to the laws of Guatemala, any person who transports an amount exceeding $ 0,000 in cash must declare it to the authorities. (La Critica)

Editor's Comment: In Panama, the cocaine goes North, and the money comes South.

Forty-five packages with suspected cocaine were found by members of the National Police and the Drug Prosecutor's Office in a vehicle with a false bottom. The Toyota vehicle was seized last Thursday in a workshop located in the La Cabima and inspected yesterday at the police station in Alcalde Diaz. In this case two Chileans and five Panamanians have been arrested. (Panama America)

A company that promotes reggaeton performers and other entertainment figures as an alleged front for the $2.3 million dollars in cash seized over the weekend at the Albrook airport, found on a private jet with US registration number N551MF which arrived from Honduras, a source said. The source reported the company has operations primarily in Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico. Authorities are investigating to determine if the money belongs to a Mexican cartel. Furthermore, a reggaeton group is mentioned as part of that organization.

Panama's Second Anti Drug Prosecutor is tracking down the owners of the money, and that the nine people who were being investigated, including two Colombians, two Hondurans and the two American pilots did not acknowledge the content of the three suitcases containing the multi million dollar sum of money. Among those arrested were Astrid López, Alán Danilo Fonseca, Hubert De Jesús Cárdenas and Camilo Andrés Bejarano. The Panamanian Customs Inspector who was arrested was getting paid to allow the bags pass through without being reviewed by the security protocol in the terminal area.

The Panamanian subsidiary of the promoter has offices in Punta Pacifica, where they also seized $180,000 dollars. That company had hired several private jets, which were to travel to Central America, and has mounted some shows in Panama and represents the genre of reggae singers. The criminal organization was detected in February of this year, following an international alert. Last Saturday morning six Panamanian police officers went directly to the aircraft when the aircraft landed in Panama, arriving from the airport in Toncontín, in Honduras. Witnessing the nervousness of the occupants, they located the suitcases stuffed with cash in a luggage compartment of the aircraft. (La Critica)

Editor's Comment: One of the best ways to launder drug money is through honest looking front companies that generate large amounts of cash. A strip club, for example, that charges at the door. How is an auditor or inspector supposed to know if they take in $50,000 on a Friday night, or $500,000 dollars. It seems like a concert or event promotion business would make a great front for money laundering. We had a concert and it was a great success - we pulled in $500,000 in one show. Unless there's someone there counting heads with a calculator in his hands, how are they ever going to find out that the show actually lost money, and the "income" really comes from laundered drug money. Anyway, I'm sure the investigators and detectives are rooting out all of the details on this one, still.