Border police in Panama announced on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, that they have apprehended 15 individuals involved in a smuggling operation that trafficked Chinese migrants through the treacherous Darien Gap.
The Darien Gap, a dense jungle area connecting Colombia and Panama, serves as a crucial passageway for migrants aiming to reach the U.S. border. In recent years, Chinese nationals have ranked as the fourth-largest group using this route, alongside the majority of Venezuelan migrants.
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In 2023, a record-breaking 500,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap. As of this year, over 212,000 migrants have made the journey, although reports in July suggest a possible decline in recent weeks.
The National Border Service of Panama reported the confiscation of 11 vehicles, two dozen cell phones, a rifle, and cash during the raids on the migrant smuggling ring.
Panama’s president has pledged to combat the overwhelming influx of migrants, with border police installing approximately three miles of barbed wire to block certain trails and direct migrants to a designated reception area.
The newly inaugurated President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, has vowed to stem the rising tide of migrants entering the country from Colombia and has secured an agreement for the U.S. government to fund repatriation flights.
