3 tonnes of cocaine seized in Panama

Panama City, Sep 25 (IANS/EFE) Panamanian security forces seized three tonnes of cocaine in the central province of Veraguas thanks to an intelligence tip from the Colombian military, police said Friday.

The drugs were confiscated Thursday after a chase at sea that began off the coast of Colon province and ended at the mouth of the Concepcion River, deputy police director Eduardo Serracin told a press conference in Panama City.

Additional drugs may be found as the search continues, he said.

“In this operation there were exchanges of shots at the mouth of the Concepcion River, but none of the people involved were captured,” Serracin said.

Besides the 120 bags of cocaine, authorities recovered a 50-foot launch with four outboard motors, a rifle and a satellite telephone, the official said.

Panama has seized 75 tonnes of illegal drugs so far this year, he said.

–IANS/EFE