(MENAFN- Newsroom Panama) The township of Pedregal, in the district of Panama, became the collection site for drugs from Colombia that arrived on the coasts of Chepo and were then brought into Tocumen International Airport to be smuggled out of the country. This was revealed by Drug Prosecutor Julio Campines when presenting the charges against the 60 people arrested in Operations Eros and Colibrí, through which a criminal network dedicated to drug trafficking was dismantled. In beginning his arguments to support the charges for the crime of conspiracy to traffic drugs, Prosecutor Campines stated that a cell of this criminal network was in charge of receiving the drugs from Colombia along the coast of Chepo, and then taking them to El Naranjal de Pedregal, storing them, and finally, smuggling them into Tocumen Airport.

Campines recounted that Pedregal became the“logistical collection center” of this organization and that the drugs were moved by a fuel transport company. During the hearing, which began at 11:35 a.m. this Saturday, but was scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Prosecutor Campines detailed that other members of the organization had small boats in which they collected drugs transported by other vessels coming from Colombia. The drugs arrived in Darién, on the coasts of Chepo in the province of Panama, and on those of Juan Hombrón in the province of Coclé. The prosecutor recounted that the group received narcotics in liquid form from Colombia, which were later used to make“drug cakes” that were moved into the interior of the country.

In his statement, prosecutor Campines identified Edie Gálvez as the alleged leader of the group, who was in charge of holding meetings to coordinate the movement of drugs, delegating functions and assigning tasks to other members. The prosecution links Gálvez to the seizure, in February 2023, of 12 slabs of drugs that were transported from Colombia to the township of Mañanitas, in the district of Panama, and to the seizure of 102 packages of drugs in January 2023, which were transported by boat to the province of Darién. Anti-drug agents were able to establish that Gálvez held meetings in hotels located in the eastern area of ​​Panama City, as well as in the Villa Lucre and Brisas del Golf neighborhoods, located in the district of San Miguelito.

The drummers Campines also revealed that the criminal network maintained a group that was dedicated to stealing drugs (tumbe) from other groups that brought drugs in from Colombia. This group was armed with pistols and rifles to intimidate potential competitors from whom they stole drugs. He recounted that such was the case of 240 kilos of cocaine seized by authorities in the community of La Mesa de San Martín, in the Pacora district. This group was also involved in the theft of 22 kilos of drugs in the El Naranjal de Pedregal area; on that occasion, seven firearms were also located. According to the investigation, another member of the group handled payments for the various tasks they were assigned. Payments of $1,000, $500, $650, and $750 were made for transportation, surveillance, security, and fuel delivery for the boats.

Other Arrests

The National Police reported on Friday the arrest of a man in the township of Pedregal, wanted for his alleged involvement with the criminal network dedicated to international drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit drug-related crimes. This Saturday, authorities also reported the arrest of another individual at the 24 de Diciembre metro station, as part of preventative measures. The person is wanted by the First Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Drug-Related Crimes. These arrests are in addition to the operations carried out last Wednesday, November 12, in the provinces of Panama, Panama West and Veraguas, within the framework of operations Eros and Colibrí.

This Sunday, the Drug Prosecutor's Office is scheduled to present the application of precautionary measures for those involved, which will have to be evaluated by Judge Sandra Castillo. Some defense lawyers argue that the prosecution has not made a convincing presentation of the charges, since during the operations people were arrested for simple telephone conversations unrelated to drug trafficking. They also pointed out that this investigation seeks to prosecute people for acts that have already been investigated and for which people are serving prison sentences; that is, cases that have already been tried and have final judgments.

The Pedregal area became the collection point for drugs from Colombia that arrived on the coasts of Chepo and were then brought into Tocumen International Airport to be smuggled out of the country.

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