Panama: Information of government involvement in drug trafficking
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAN11065 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Panama: Information of government involvement in drug trafficking, 1 June 1992, PAN11065, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab2f98.html [accessed 21 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Please find attached some of the most recent articles currently available to the IRBDC that discuss the issue of drug trafficking in Panama (listed below). These articles include a report on President Endara's alleged links with a bank involved in "money laundering" (Latin American Newsletters 6 Dec. 1990) and the Chief Public Prosecutor's accusations of corruption in various forms of ministers and other public officials (Ibid. 28 Mar. 1991).
One of the attached reports indicates that, according to an affidavit signed by an agent of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), President Endara is or has been the treasurer of a number of companies "set up in Panama by a U.S.-based group as part of a money-laundering network" (Ibid. 9 May 1991). The report adds:
Endara's law firm, Solís, Endara y Delgado, was identified as the companies' agent in Panama, while one of the senior partners, presidential adviser Hern n Delgado, figured as the chairman of the board of most of the companies (Ibid.).
Various sources, including the attached articles listed below, indicate that drug trafficking and "money laundering" have increased in Panama since the December 1989 United States invasion. However, additional information specifically referring to direct involvement of government officials in drug trafficking could not be found among the sources currently available to the IRBDC.
References
Latin American Newsletters. 9 May 1991. Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico & Central America. "PDC Ousted From Ruling Coalition." London: Latin American Newsletters.
. 28 March 1991. "Prosecutor Claims Top Officials Corrupt." London: Latin American Newsletters.
. 6 December 1990. "`Propitious' Time for a Coup d'état." London: Latin American Newsletters.
Attachments
Central America Report [Guatemala]. 3 April 1992. "Panama: Colombia Discusses Drug War Strategies."
. 20 March 1992. "Region: Drug Trafficking Tentacles Grip the Region."
Latin American Newsletters. 22 August 1991. Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico & Central America. "Panama: Haven For Drug Traffickers." London: Latin American Newsletters.
. 9 May 1991. "PDC Ousted From Ruling Coalition." London: Latin American Newsletters.
. 28 March 1991. "Prosecutor Claims Top Officials Corrupt." London: Latin American Newsletters.
. 6 December 1990. "`Propitious' Time for a Coup d'état." London: Latin American Newsletters.
