Among those apprehended are "civilians" and people who "previously held high positions within security levels", prosecutor Emeldo Márquez reported, at a conference held on Tuesday, in which he indicated that although the case began in March 2019, the period investigated dates back to 2012.

The prosecutor did not specify the names, but warned that some of the 19 detainees are already being "detained."

Among the raided premises are the residences of Rolando López, former director of the National Security Council (CSN), and Ricardo “Ricky” Domínguez, representative of the township of Bella Vista.

He is also linked to Omar Pinzón and Julio Moltó, former directors of the National Police. Moltó was also director of the CSN.

Prosecutor Márquez remarked that, at this time, among those apprehended there are no publicly elected officials or former ministers. The apprehended will be brought to an indictment hearing, in the next few hours, by the alleged crime against collective security, in the form of trafficking in firearms.

The 28 raids carried out this Tuesday in the provinces of Panama, Panama West and Veraguas, have the purpose of recovering 86 war weapons, which were imported into the country to be used by agents of the security forces, but later they were located in private individuals and high officials.

In the shipment of 86 identified weapons, 50 have been located this Tuesday, of which 34 were recovered, at the time of the press conference. It consists of 13 war rifles, 16 pistols, 4 shotguns and 1 rifle. The director of the DIIP, Carlos Delgado, anticipated that the amount will increase, since there are still raids in progress.

They are weapons of war due to their caliber, the prosecutor warned.

Police Director Jorge Miranda , who participated in the press conference, said that of the 34 weapons recovered so far, three had no permit, and seven do, but it is under verification.

The prosecutor reiterated that the weapons were should be in the security forces, and not in the hands of these people.