(Prensa.com) The Panamanian authorities seized 40.5 tons of drugs in 2011, a figure lower than in recent years, because the drug would have changed the route to transport the goods to the U.S. (EU) announced Wednesday the government Panamanian.
A total of “40.5 tons of drugs were seized in general this year,” of which 30 are for cocaine and marijuana, the rest mainly explained at a press conference the Minister of Public Security, Jose Raul Mulino.
In 2010, Panama seized 53.8 tons of drugs (as corrected figure recently by the government), while seizures in 2009 were 56 tons. “The business we are not taking more drugs. Is to shield our country so that no drug. That’s the most important,” said Mulino.
The official said the decline is because drug traffickers are changing the route to transport drugs from South America, due to increased surveillance in Panamanian waters after the installation of several naval bases.
According to Mulino, the traffickers’ varied path Darien (border with Colombia jungle area) and now throw in the path below the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) to get back into northern Central America, looking for the U.S. market, “he said.
He added that according to intelligence information would be “entry points” important drug in the region through the Peñas Blancas area on the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
“That means that the drug market is looking for other routes and Panama for surveillance. And this year 2012 that ended the entire installation of equipment and technology can provide a better service to shield our shores,” said Mulino.