Schools campaign

PANAMA. A prevention program has been implemented in Panamanian schoolS to prevent criminals from selling illegal drugs to children near schools. The “Successful Youth” is part of the plan put in place by the Prevention of Drugs Crimes Commission.

Second Drugs Prosecutor, Edwin Guardia Alvarado said that the National Police together with the Public Ministry is gathering intelligence about drug dealers who are targeting certain schools in the capital and the interior to sell their illicit product.

Guardia Alvarado said that currently they are carrying out undercover operations close to schools. However, the authorities cannot put undercover agents inside the actual classroom, because the potential drug users are minors.

“If something must be done then the Prosecutor for the Adolescent will have to give his approval, depending on the case. Specialist personnel normally handle drug charges involving minors.”

The prosecutor said that to carry out these types of programs is very important to have a Panama free of drugs and above all to protect the country’s most important resource, its youth. The other reason is that it is national and international policy to fight the sale of drugs, not only the global drug trafficking, but also the sale of drugs at a local level.

“We are trying to reduce the sale of drugs as much as possible,. More than 100 people have been detained and we are already processing forty cases.

If they are found guilty they could receive sentences of up to 15 years in prison