Three Panama Customs Officials Detained in Alleged Corruption Investigation

Three officials from Panama’s National Customs Authority (ANA) have been detained as part of an alleged corruption investigation led by the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office. According to the authorities, the case began with a complaint filed on 27 May 2026 by a local businessman.

The businessman alleged that he had been asked to pay a bribe of around $20,000 to speed up a customs inspection. During the operation, carried out together with the National Customs Authority, the National Police and the Judicial Investigation Directorate, investigators reported seizing about $42,000 in cash.

A judge, Francisco Carpintero, charged the three officials — two men and one woman — on a charge of concusión, a form of extortion involving a public official. According to the court’s decision, one of the officials was placed in provisional detention, while the other two were ordered to report periodically to the authorities as the investigation continues. In local reporting, the three were identified as Betzaida Bracamaya, whom the court considered to have organised the collection of money, and inspectors Víctor Moreno and Eduardo López.

It is important to stress that these are allegations, and that detention at this stage is not the same as a conviction. Nothing has been proven in court, and the individuals are presumed innocent unless and until they are found guilty through the proper legal process.

Panama’s Customs Authority oversees the movement of goods across the country’s borders, the collection of duties and the controls on imports and exports. Because it sits where trade meets regulation, questions about the conduct of customs officials touch on public trust and on the smooth functioning of commerce.

Panama Now Online is following the case carefully and will share verified updates as they emerge, continuing to distinguish clearly between what has been confirmed and what remains unproven.