(Prensa.com) The government will purchase four unmanned aircraft, called drones, that will be used to detect drug trafficking and the movement of guerrilla groups in remote areas, reported Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino.According to the official, the acquisition of these aircraft, valued at approximately $4 million each, has been included in the budget of the ministry for this year, which is $300 million. Mulino said that these aircraft were used in Panama between August and October 2010 as part of a pilot program. The program’s cost was paid for by the U.S. government.
“They made us this offer and we accepted it,” the minister said.
The flights originated from the Tocumen International Airport cargo terminal, where the government has an aeronaval base.
The minister said that the missions were not carried out by the U.S. military, nor did the planes carry any weapons or leave Panama’s airspace.
Documents leaked by groups in America alleged that the U.S. government operated the flights.
Mulino said that the three months of surveillance by the drones resulted in a number of drug seizures. But he added the cost of operating the aircraft is very high, $1.6 million per month per drone.
The minister also denied that the U.S. military was involved in building naval bases in Panama, as recently leaked documents claimed. he said that there were U.S. civilian companies involved, but no military officials.