Crime in Panama
Encyclopedia
Crime in Panama
is moderate but becoming more frequent, particularly because of the narcotics-trafficking related violence and activities of youth gangs. Police checkpoints have become common place on weekends on roads in between cities. Based upon reported incidents by local police, the high-crime areas around Panama City are San Miguelito, Rio Abajo
, El Chorrillo, Ancón
, Curundu, Veracruz Beach, Panama Viejo
, and the Madden Dam overlook.
The crimes plague metropolitan areas and include rapes, armed robberies, muggings, purse-snatchings, "express kidnappings" from ATM banking facilities, in which the victim is briefly kidnapped and robbed after withdrawing cash from an ATM, and petty theft. There have been several targeted kidnappings in Panama with the complicity of corrupt law enforcement.
Curfews consist of special strategic checkpoints around the main streets in Panama, where each person inside a vehicle must carry their Identification Cards or be accompanied by their Legal Guardians. Authorities have helped slowly decrease the amount of unattended youths that are loitering around the streets concerning people's safety; since most of the thefts and kidnappings are carried out by minors.
Once the kidnapper is satisfied the abducted is usually released. In some other cases, the kidnappers may ask for ransom money for the release of the victim. This long process of kidnapping is slowly decreasing, since kidnappers are persuaded to earn a quick and fast payoff without complicated negotiations with relatives.
The FARC(Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
) has also contributed the drug increase in the country.
Many of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
) soldiers who seek shelter and refugee from Colombian Armed Forces, cross the border between Darien and Colombia. Since the presence of the FARC in Panama, drug trafficking has been increasing in large numbers. Waterways are being watched carefully by the Panamanian Naval Forces, but the FARC has adapted their ways of smuggling narcotics through the land across Panama.
". A 2009 census reported that there exist around 108 street gangs, some of them are:
More than 1,600 youths between the ages 13 to 15 are related to youth gangs. Most of the youth gangs are fueled by drugs. The transit and presence of drugs have been fueling the increase of youth gangs.
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
is moderate but becoming more frequent, particularly because of the narcotics-trafficking related violence and activities of youth gangs. Police checkpoints have become common place on weekends on roads in between cities. Based upon reported incidents by local police, the high-crime areas around Panama City are San Miguelito, Rio Abajo
Rio Abajo
Rio Abajo is a West Indian neighborhood in Panama City, capital of the Republic of Panama. The unique culture of this area of Panama stems mainly from the Creole-speaking Caribbean people who relocated to the area from Anglophone islands in the Antilles more than a century ago, namely Jamaica and...
, El Chorrillo, Ancón
Ancón, Panama
Ancón is a "corregimiento" in central Panama , northeast of the [town-]limits of the town of Balboa. Ancon Hill is also the name of a large hill that overlooks Panama City, and served as a form of protection from pirates, and sea invasion...
, Curundu, Veracruz Beach, Panama Viejo
Panama Viejo
Panamá Viejo is the remaining part of the old Panama City and former capital of the country. It is located in the suburbs of the modern city. Together with the historical district of Panamá, it forms a World Heritage Site.-History:...
, and the Madden Dam overlook.
The crimes plague metropolitan areas and include rapes, armed robberies, muggings, purse-snatchings, "express kidnappings" from ATM banking facilities, in which the victim is briefly kidnapped and robbed after withdrawing cash from an ATM, and petty theft. There have been several targeted kidnappings in Panama with the complicity of corrupt law enforcement.
Curfews
Starting from July 19, Panamanian authorities have applied a curfew policy for youths under 18. Restrictions consist of students who are attending night classes must carry with them a permit or identification card, provided by the school or an official certified person.Youths under 18 that are caught without these requirements,are subject to detention at a police station until they release the youths to their legal guardians. A fine around $50.00 is issued to the legal guardians if the youth is apprehended for the first time.Curfews consist of special strategic checkpoints around the main streets in Panama, where each person inside a vehicle must carry their Identification Cards or be accompanied by their Legal Guardians. Authorities have helped slowly decrease the amount of unattended youths that are loitering around the streets concerning people's safety; since most of the thefts and kidnappings are carried out by minors.
Express Kidnappings
Panamanian authorities have conducted a study, in which it indicates that almost 90% of express kidnappings are unreported due to the threat that thieves impose on the victim and relatives of the victim. The procedure of express kidnapping consist of abducting the victim and take possession of valuable things such as cellphones, watches, credit cards, cash, and jewelry. Besides taking all of the victim's valuable possession, the kidnappers make the victim withdraw money from different ATM locations.Once the kidnapper is satisfied the abducted is usually released. In some other cases, the kidnappers may ask for ransom money for the release of the victim. This long process of kidnapping is slowly decreasing, since kidnappers are persuaded to earn a quick and fast payoff without complicated negotiations with relatives.
Drug Trafficking
In the last decades Panama has been one of the important connections for shipping narcotics to the US and other countries. The International Narcotics Control Strategy has reported that traffickers have managed to smuggle narcotics through the country's uncontrolled transportation system, such as airfields, coastlines, containerized seaports and highways.The FARC(Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
) has also contributed the drug increase in the country.
Many of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
) soldiers who seek shelter and refugee from Colombian Armed Forces, cross the border between Darien and Colombia. Since the presence of the FARC in Panama, drug trafficking has been increasing in large numbers. Waterways are being watched carefully by the Panamanian Naval Forces, but the FARC has adapted their ways of smuggling narcotics through the land across Panama.
Street Gangs
The first Panamanian Gangs appeared during the late 1980s and increased in great amount when the Panamanian Army was disbanded in 1990 due to the "United States invasion of PanamaUnited States invasion of Panama
The United States Invasion of Panama, code-named Operation Just Cause, was the invasion of Panama by the United States in December 1989. It occurred during the administration of U.S. President George H. W...
". A 2009 census reported that there exist around 108 street gangs, some of them are:
- Vietnam 23
- Patrulla del Terror
- Blue Demond, Kilimanjaros, Rugrats
- Chicanos
- Toca y Muere
- Cofos
- Sicilianos
- Hijos del Banano
- Los Perros
- Sopranos
- Los Ninos Capos
- Nueva Ola
- Chacales
- Los Wereber
More than 1,600 youths between the ages 13 to 15 are related to youth gangs. Most of the youth gangs are fueled by drugs. The transit and presence of drugs have been fueling the increase of youth gangs.
See also
- Penal system of PanamaPenal system of PanamaArticle 27 of the Panamanian constitution declares that the prison system of Panama is based on the principles of security, rehabilitation, and the protection of society. Provisions have been made to establish training programs designed to teach skills and trades that will afford prisoners the...
- Domestic violence in PanamaDomestic violence in PanamaDomestic violence in Panama is a serious problem. The Family Code criminalizes rape, spousal rape, and family violence, including psychological, physical, or sexual abuse, and provides prison terms of one to five years. There are few convictions for domestic violence because victims generally chose...
- Law enforcement in PanamaLaw enforcement in PanamaPanama abolished its army in 1990, confirmed by a unanimous vote by the National Assembly of Panama for constitutional change in 1994. Some units within the Public Force have limited warfare capabilities....