More police for Bayano River

PANAMÁ. A call for more police presence in the Bayano River was made Wednesday by the Chepo legislator Hernan Delgado.

The request comes after the deputy detected a heavy presence of Columbian drug traffickers using the river to carry narcotics using speed boats.

As a result, the Minister of Government and Justice, Jose Raul Mulino, has committed to installing a security port near the mouth of the river, the deputy said.

“This area has become a no man’s land,” the Minister said.

“We are going to stop or attack any outlaws that try to enter.”

The Budget Commission has expressed support to the new project, saying that Panama should not tolerate this types of activity occurring within the country.

The commission added that other areas have similar problems, due to lack of police monitoring.

The Bayano River, located in Central Panama’s Chepo region, has been a route for Colombian drug runners for many years.