11 get stiff jail terms

PANAMA. Eleven people implicated in the theft of 103 kilograms of cocaine from a Police Warehouse in Ancon have received jail sentences, ranging from over four to over 8 years.

Judge Rolando Queseda Vallespi, imposed a sentence of 100 months on Gustavo Sanchez Monina for selling and transferring illegal drugs. Jorge Arnulfo Molleda; Saby Liz Mena Quijada and Francisco Antonio Grajales Ramos, were jailed for 80 months.

Simon Santimateo Flores aka "Monty", Rubén Dario Febirer Bensant; Riqui Alberto Beato and Rolando Rogelio Ramos Gutierrez, got 56 months and Eduan Enrique Córdoba, Ariel Jimenez Correa and Gonzálo Guillermo Ortiz Diaz, 60 months.

The incident took place in August 2004, when the then Attorney General, José Antonio Sosa, reported that the contents of sacks of cocaine had been replaced with commercial flour. The theft was discovered after a routine check.