Panama Embraces Tough Approach to Gang Violence, Following Bukele’s Lead
For many years, crime took advantage of the lack of leadership, but that is over, Mulino announced
The Panamanian Government, under President Raul Mulino, has unveiled Operation Panama 3.0, a crackdown on gangs reminiscent of El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele’s approach.
President Mulino declared, “Starting today we will go house by house, farm by farm, or wherever the gang members are hiding to put them where they belong: in jail.” He emphasized the government’s commitment to making the streets safe for law-abiding citizens.
The strategy includes deploying additional National Police officers and strengthening law enforcement presence in high-crime areas. President Mulino vowed to make Panama the safest country in the region and rid neighborhoods of gang influence.
Authorities are also considering imposing curfews in certain areas to combat crime more effectively. With this tough stance, Panama aims to tackle gang violence head-on and restore security to its communities.