(Panama) A semi-submersible carrying 625 packages of drugs was intercepted on Thursday by the Panamanian coast guard and anti-drug services who arrested three Colombians on board, announced General Oriel Ortega, director of the Panamanian border police service ( Senafront).
Posted at 5:59 p.m.
The so-called “low profile” boat, because it is designed to barely touch the surface of the water to escape surveillance, was intercepted off the Panamanian Caribbean coast.
The semi-submersible was made of fiberglass in an artisanal way and the three men on board took turns to pilot it, General Ortega told the press.
This is the first time that this type of boat has been captured in the waters of the Caribbean coast, traffickers generally prefer to sail on the Pacific side where the sea is usually calmer, further indicated the director of Senafront.
He did not specify the type of drug seized.
Panama is the main gateway to Central America for drugs coming from South America, mainly from Colombia, the world’s largest producer of cocaine, destined for the United States, the world’s largest consumer of this drug.
Authorities in Central America, however, have noted a significant increase in drug trafficking to Europe, mainly via Caribbean ports.