Panama Police Seize 39 Drug Packages on Container Ship Bound For New Zealand

Panama’s National Police, working with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, have seized 39 packages containing a suspected illicit substance inside a container at a local port.

The seizure took place as part of a search and inspection operation coordinated between police and judicial authorities.

The container, according to its shipping records, originated in Morocco and passed through Panama before being destined for New Zealand.

En un puerto de la localidad, incautamos 39 paquetes de presunta sustancia ilícita dentro de un contenedor proveniente de Marruecos, con tránsito por Panamá y destino final en Nueva Zelanda. #DiosYPatria pic.twitter.com/V7v9MEhdvp

— Policía Nacional (@policiadepanama) September 7, 2025

Video footage shared by the police on social media shows the packages, which appear consistent with those typically associated with drug trafficking.

The operation involved a container ship calling at a Panamanian port.

Authorities said the seizure was part of ongoing efforts to fight transnational drug trafficking. Officials are still investigating the origin of the cargo and its intended recipients.

Reference: Panama’s National Police