Street gangs didn’t surface in the little world center until the 1980s, and didn’t become hugely problematic until the U.S. The United States doesn’t just provide the demand for much of Panama’s illicit drug shipments, it has also created the circumstances that encouraged the formation of street gangs in Panama. The Colombian government links coca farming to the revolutionaries, creating what some political theorists call “narcoguerrillas.” Panama has seen a measurable increase in drug trafficking since the arrival of the RAFC. In Colombia, coca farmers (often settlers from other parts of the country displaced by the political violence of the 1950s) are persecuted by the government. The second is the presence of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia’s refugee soldiers. The first is the country’s lack of control over its airfields and coastlines, which allows for narcotics to be transported easily to the USA. These types of crimes are estimated to go 90 percent unreported in Panama, due to fear of retaliation.ĭrug trafficking has increased in Panama over the past decade for two reasons.
In these types of kidnappings, the robber may also drive the victim to an ATM machine and force them to withdraw cash. Express kidnappings involve criminals temporarily abducting a victim, and releasing them once they’ve forced them to hand over valuables. Long-process kidnappings, in which the criminals try to gain ransom money through the victim’s relatives, are decreasing, but “express kidnappings” are on the rise. Other types of crime occur mainly in provinces with large cities such as Panama City, Colón, and Chiriquí. Efforts have been made to curb these issues, and have succeeded somewhat - the homicide rate has steadily declined since 2010. Less violent crimes like theft are currently at a rate of 7.2 per 100,000 people. Nations with a significant disparity in living conditions often see higher rates of crime, and Panama is no different, with the homicide rate rising to 800 per 100,000 people in 2009. You will enjoy Panama's friendly and diverse people and culture, but socioeconomic issues will require you to keep your wits about you. Though relatively safe, and certainly beautiful, if you are traveling to Panama then you must take certain basic precautions to maintain your health and safety during your trip.