Two Colombians sentenced to 13 years over 5.4 kg of marijuana at sea
A Panama court sentenced two Colombian men to 13 years in prison for international drug trafficking and for altering a vehicle used to move drugs, the Public Ministry said. The case began on 12 March 2026 when a maritime patrol found them aboard a boat south of Punta Burica with 5.4 kg of marijuana and 621 g of cocaine.
🇵🇦 High seas south of Punta Burica, Panamá–Costa Rica border area, Chiriquí · Panama
Two Colombian citizens were sentenced to 13 years in prison for international
trafficking of illicit substances and for altering a vehicle’s structure to
transport illicit substances.[1]Panama’s Public Ministry announced the same
13-year sentence on 13 March 2026, saying it was imposed after the two men
accepted responsibility at a hearing.[2]The Chiriquí drug prosecutor asked a
guarantee judge to legalise both men’s apprehension and to charge them, and the
judge validated the plea agreement that fixed the term.[2]
The case began on 12 March 2026 in international waters south of Punta Burica,
on the border between Panama and Costa Rica.[2]During a maritime patrol,
security units found a boat carrying the two foreigners with 5,400 grams (5.4
kilograms) of marijuana and 621 grams of cocaine aboard.[2]Infobae described
the seizure as part of operations aimed at curbing trafficking on the maritime
routes of the Panamanian Pacific.[1]
The Public Ministry said it gathered the evidence with the security forces and
that it would keep bringing drug cases before the courts.[2]
Photos and video
An image the article places beside its report on two Colombians sentenced after being detained with marijuana and cocaine at sea off Punta Burica, captioned in the page as a courtesy image. Photo: Fuerza Naval del Caribe / CortesíaPhoto details
Panama’s Senafront border service seized 914 rectangular packages of suspected marijuana in Playa Muerto, Darién, detaining two people. The operation also netted phones, GPS devices and a twin-engine boat, with detainees and evidence handed to prosecutors.
Senafront detained one person after two raids in Pueblo Nuevo, Darién, seizing plant material presumed to be marijuana, powder presumed to be cocaine, unfired ammunition, phones and cash. The person and the evidence were handed to the authorities for legal processing.
A judge in Chiriquí approved a plea agreement on 5 October 2026 and sentenced three foreign nationals aged 27, 29 and 32 to 11 years for international drug trafficking, two days after the aeronaval service intercepted a boat carrying 2,852 packages of cannabis south of Punta Burica.
Police arrested a Colombian man at a home in Vacamonte, Arraiján, seizing 30 suspected marijuana seedlings, a shotgun and ammunition during Operation Santander. The detainee and the seized items were placed at the disposal of the competent authorities for investigation and legal proceedings.
