Monday
Monday 9th June 2025.
June 8, 2025
A total of 28 of the 51 defendants charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit drug-related offenses, arrested during Operation Fisher , have reached plea agreements.
Sources close to the case revealed that many of the defendants have opted for these plea deals in order to obtain reduced sentences in the event of a conviction by the court.
The trial, which resumes this Monday, June 9, is scheduled to include 600 pieces of documentary evidence and 100 pieces of testimony presented by defense attorneys.
For its part, the Drug Prosecutor’s Office was granted 240 pieces of documentary evidence, 13 pieces of expert evidence, and five pieces of material evidence, which will be presented at the trial scheduled for May 26, 2025.
In this case, the prosecutor’s office seized $10 million, found in a residence located in the Costa Abajo area of Colón province. According to the investigation, this money belonged to members of the Clan del Golfo, who kept it hidden in anticipation of Colombia’s offensive against the criminal organization.
Authorities identified Jorge Luis General as the alleged leader of the network. According to the investigation, he was in charge of logistics for the transfer of drugs and money. He was also the owner of the company Magna Pesca, used to justify the movement of funds from drug trafficking. According to the Public Registry, this company’s president is Jorge Luis General himself.
$44,000 in cash was found at his residence, while four boats linked to him, valued at $400,000, were also seized. Authorities maintain that these were used to transport drugs and money.
The criminal network used residences in the community of Nueva Providencia, Colón, adjacent to the sea, as reception centers for drugs and money. Three stash houses containing more than $10 million were found in one of these houses. The other residences, also linked to drug trafficking, were found empty.
The investigation also revealed that the group had a Global Positioning System (GPS) to accurately locate shipments. Furthermore, members frequently changed the chips in their phones and used encryption systems to prevent their communications from being intercepted.
The trial began on May 26, but the absence of some defendants and the appointment of new defense attorneys forced the court to suspend the hearing, which will resume on Monday, June 9.
Other defendants are expected to reach plea agreements before the trial concludes.
The Government of Panama condemned the attack on Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, which occurred during a public event in Bogotá on Saturday, June 7.
In an official statement issued on June 8, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its regret over the attack and its solidarity with the people and government of the Republic of Colombia. It also extended a message of encouragement to the family and friends of the Colombian legislator, wishing him a speedy and full recovery.
“The Republic of Panama expresses its sincere wishes for your speedy and complete recovery,” the statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states.
In the document, they rejected all forms of political violence that threaten life, integrity, and the democratic principles that must prevail in every electoral process.
“Panama reiterates its firm commitment to the defense of democratic values, respect for life, and the peaceful resolution of differences,” the statement concludes.
For his part, President José Raúl Mulino called the act “reprehensible” and asserted that “we cannot go to such extremes because of radicalism that undermines democracy as a system.”
The presidential candidate also emerged from surgery he underwent Saturday night at the Santa Fe Foundation in Bogotá, but his condition remains critical, according to people close to him.
Uribe Turbay, 39, was shot several times while campaigning in a park in the town of Fontibón, west of Bogotá, and was taken to the Medicentro Clinic with serious injuries by his supporters.
The congressman is a politician close to former President Álvaro Uribe and one of Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s harshest critics, especially regarding the deteriorating security situation in the country.
The senator, who received the most votes in the 2022 elections, is the son of Diana Turbay, a journalist who was kidnapped and murdered in 1991 by drug traffickers in the service of Pablo Escobar, and the grandson of former President Julio César Turbay, who governed the country between 1978 and 1982.
“The crisis in Bocas del Toro is no longer a warning: it’s a painful and urgent reality.” This was stated by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP), more than a month after an indefinite banana strike and massive roadblocks.
As a result of this crisis, the province is facing “the collapse of its economic activity, shortages of food, medicine, and gas,” the union warned, also highlighting the direct impact on thousands of families following the departure of the region’s main employment provider.
This is Chiquita Panama , which completely ceased its administrative operations in the Changuinola district, after more than a month of stoppage.
“The withdrawal of a company that is an anchor in the local economy not only affects its direct employees; it is a devastating blow to commerce, suppliers, services, transportation, and all the people who depend on these activities. It is a blow to the social stability of the entire province,” stated the CCIAP.
In its column, “La Cámara Opina ,” the union also spoke out about the assault and detention of a tourist, an incident that was recorded on video and went viral on social media. “This incident puts another of the province’s major economic drivers at risk: tourism. The damage to Panama’s image is devastating, and the consequences for one of the country’s most iconic destinations are profound,” it emphasized.
In the context of the search for solutions, Francisco Smith , general secretary of the Banana Industry Workers Union (Sitraibana), held a meeting with the metropolitan archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa , who, along with Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik , has been appointed as an intermediary by President José Raúl Mulino to mediate in the social crisis affecting Bocas del Toro.
In this regard, the CCIAP acknowledged these signs of commitment, but was emphatic: “We clearly warn: the situation cannot endure another day of inaction. We demand that partisan politics remain on the sidelines. This is about thinking about Panama and, in this specific case, about the people of Bocas del Toro. It is our obligation to the affected population,” she concluded.
The mayor of the Panama District , Mayer Mizrachi , expressed his outrage after learning that several individuals known as “well-cared-for” were released without punishment, despite having been detained during a surprise operation carried out on Thursday night, May 5.
In a strongly worded statement, Mizrachi criticized the actions of justices of the peace, whom he accused of failing to enforce the sanctions stipulated in current regulations, which include fines of up to $1,000 or community service for up to 90 days.
“I’m pretty pissed off right now. The ‘well-cared-for’ ones we picked up last night were all turned away. The justices of the peace didn’t impose any sanctions on them, so tell me: why are we legislating here? What message are we sending?” the mayor questioned.
The mayor warned that this omission sends a negative message to the public, fostering impunity and harming public welfare. “You’re sending the public a message of: ‘I don’t care about you, I don’t care about your rights or your well-being.’ And to those who are ‘well-protected,’ you’re saying: ‘Steal cell phones, extort, ask for money in exchange for not breaking a car window, and nothing will happen to you,'” he expressed concern.
Mizrachi recalled that the Panama City Council approved clear sanctions for these cases and insisted on the need for justices of the peace to fulfill their sanctioning role.
He also emphasized that the operation was carried out in conjunction with the Municipal Police, reiterating his commitment to citizen safety.
The mayor concluded his remarks by firmly calling on the relevant authorities to implement legal measures and guarantee the peace of mind of Panamanians.
Breaking the scoreboard in two geisha coffee categories and achieving first place in the varietal category, the Peterson family’s Hacienda La Esmeralda won the Panama Cup, positioning them as the best specialty coffee producers in the country.
This is the result of the twenty-ninth edition of the “The Best of Panama” tasting with international judges, organized by the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP).
“I’m in disbelief at this achievement, because getting three first places has never happened at the Best of Panama, we didn’t expect it, I’m so excited. First place for Varietal with a Laurina from El Velo, a first place for Geisha Natural, which is a record, and first place for Geisha Lavado, which is another record. So we couldn’t be happier,” said Rachel Peterson of Hacienda La Esmeralda.
It is worth noting that in the evaluation table, after the careful examination of 22 judges from different parts of the world, the washed Geisha coffee from Hacienda La Esmeralda obtained 98 points, while in the washed Geisha coffee category from the same hacienda, it obtained 97 points and in the varietal category a sample obtained 92.88 points.
For Will Young, head judge of this competition, Panama has established itself as the producer of the best coffee in the world.
For his part, Richard Koyner, President of SCAP, described the competition as incredible, with some judges giving the winning samples perfect scores of 100.
He confirmed that the winning coffee lots in each category will be entered into SCAP’s annual electronic auction, scheduled for August 6, where Panama leads the world in record prices per kilogram with the prized gem, the Panama Geisha.
Scores by category:
A-Geisha Washes
2nd place 96.25 points Finca Sophia.
3rd place 95.27 points Nuguo café from the Gallardo family.
B-Natural Geishas
2nd place 96.25 Finca Los Cenizos.
3rd place 96.25 Finca Sophia.
C- Varietals
2nd place 92.63 points for Hunter Tedman’s Black Moon Farm
3rd place 92.25 Cantera farm of the Garrido sisters.