Panama Bolsters Darien Border With 700 Troops to Counter Clan del Golfo
Panama deploys over 700 border police to the Darien Gap under Operation Steel Shield to counter Clan del Golfo influence and cross-border crime.
Panama has deployed more than 700 special border police officers to reinforce its 266-kilometer frontier with Colombia, part of a new security push named Operation Steel Shield. The operation follows President José Raúl Mulino's announcement of plans to tighten control along the border.
Officers have been positioned at strategic locations and binational surveillance posts, including the Alto Limón post in the Darien region. Footage from the area shows Panamanian and Colombian police conducting joint patrols, with helicopter support flying over the dense jungle terrain.
Héctor De Sedas, Deputy Director General of Panama's Border Police, said the deployment is aimed at neutralizing criminal influence exerted by the Clan del Golfo, a Colombian criminal group active near the border. He noted that the remote, heavily forested landscape makes securing the area particularly challenging.
Colombian anti-narcotics police are also involved in the effort, monitoring individuals moving through the region who could pose a security threat. Authorities say Operation Steel Shield and bilateral security cooperation will continue in Darien province to combat drug trafficking and maintain territorial control.