SECURITY · PANAMA
Key Facts
- —The country Panama, where La Prensa counts about 121 active gangs (as of 2 October 2026), most of them in small-scale drug dealing, extortion and robbery.
- —What happened A judge ordered pre-trial detention for nine of ten people arrested on 30 September in 24 de Diciembre, east Panama City, prosecutors said on 2 October.
- —Who is involved Ten people charged with gang membership; the tenth must report to the court periodically. Police call the group “Los Iluminati”. None has been convicted.
- —What it means for you The case concerns residential areas on the Tocumen and Pacora corridor east of the capital. Officials have issued no wider public warning.
- —Still open Whether prosecutors bring separate charges over the killing of a border officer and the drug seizures, and when a trial could start.
A judge in Panama has ordered nine alleged members of a 24 de Diciembre gang held in pre-trial detention. Prosecutors announced the ruling on Friday 2 October.
The nine were among ten people arrested on 30 September in raids on the eastern edge of Panama City. All ten were charged with gang membership, a crime under Panamanian law, and all are presumed innocent.
What the court decided
The hearing began on Thursday 1 October before guarantees judge Carmelo Sambrano, La Prensa reported. A guarantees judge in Panama rules on arrests, charges and precautionary measures before any trial.
According to the Public Ministry, the court legalised the arrests and accepted the charges. It found detention suitable because of the gravity of the offence, flight risk, danger to the community and possible destruction of evidence.
The tenth suspect was not detained, and La Prensa reported that this suspect must report to the court periodically instead. The judge found the prosecution had not shown a strong enough link.
How Operation Élite unfolded
The pre-dawn raids on 30 September hit Sector 5 of 24 de Diciembre, known locally as La Favela or La Invasión. TVN reported that the National Police supported the operation with search, intelligence and canine units.
The case is led by a specialised prosecutor’s office for criminal association and began in 2025. TVN reported that actions in February, March and August seized more than one tonne of drugs hidden in eastern homes.
Police described the group as “Los Iluminati” and said it was allegedly allied with the larger “HP” network. La Prensa reported that HP is involved in drug shipments from Colombia linked to the Clan del Golfo, a Colombian trafficking group.
What prosecutors allege
The Public Ministry says the evidence includes documents, photographs and forensic analysis of the suspects’ phones and social media. It alleges the 24 de Diciembre gang held territorial control over the area.
Prosecutors link the group to the killing of a security officer, the drug seizures and illegal evictions. La Prensa identified the officer as a member of Sernafront, Panama’s National Border Service.
La Prensa also reported phone intercepts, Instagram posts and distinctive tattoos and graffiti used to mark territory. These are the prosecution’s claims and have not been tested at trial.
A wider security picture
La Prensa counts about 121 active gangs in Panama, so one dismantled cell leaves many others in place. Homicides have tested President José Raúl Mulino’s security pledges, as covered in Panama’s Murder Wave Defies Curfews and Tests Mulino’s Crime Pledge.
Courts have also been active on drug cases, as in Panama Drug Case: Court Orders Accused Ringleader From Hospital to Prison. For residents, crime remains concentrated in specific areas, explained in Panama Safety for Expats in 2026: One Province Skews Everything.
What Is Not Yet Known
Officials have not said whether any of the nine will face separate homicide or drug-trafficking charges. The length of the detention order and the timetable for the investigation were not published.
The defence position has not been reported. It is also unclear whether further members are being sought, and the Public Ministry said only that the investigation continues.
Sources: TVN Noticias, 2 October 2026 · TVN Noticias, 30 September 2026 · La Prensa (Panama), 2 October 2026 · La Prensa (Panama), 30 September 2026 · Public Ministry of Panama, 2 October 2026
This article was drafted with automated assistance and reviewed before publication. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief