SAN JOSE (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 07th May, 2019) The Panamanian government is working to intercept the drugs flowing through Panama to Europe and the United States, Colon Free Zone Users' Association President Daniel Rojas told Sputnik ahead of a conference that would address fighting contraband in the region.
"Colombia provides all the drugs and Panama is just the transportation [hub] to Europe and the United States," Rojas said Monday. "They try to use the Panama hub for that and that is not correct. We try to fight against that."
Rojas explained that the Panamanian government seeks to enhance its technology at the country's ports of entry in order to detect drug containers.
Moreover, Rojas called on European countries to step up efforts to deter drug trafficking and share intelligence in order to effectively fight the problem.
"They need to share [intelligence], they need to help us," Rojas said.
On Tuesday, the Conference of Free Zone of the Americas will kick off in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, where participants will discuss strategies to combat illicit commerce, contraband and money laundering.
The Colon Free Trade Zone, located near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal, is the largest free trade port in the Americas and the second largest in the world after Hong Kong.
