Narco Trafficking Guna Yala Governor Erick Iván Martelo Robinson Fired

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Guna Yala governor caught with 79 drug packs

Posted 15/09/2020

The governor of the Guna Yala region, Erick Iván Martelo Robinson, was arrested at dawn on Tuesday, September 15, after 79 drug packages were found in a vehicle at the Las Garzas de Pacora police checkpoint, as a result of intelligence information that had been obtained. Alba Peña, 40 years old was also apprehended

The drug was hidden  under the seats of the   vehicle  which had structural modifications says a police report

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/guna-yala-governor-caught-with-79-drug-packs-1

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4 minutes ago, Moderator_02 said:

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/guna-yala-governor-caught-with-79-drug-packs-1

 

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Cortizo fires drug-carrying governor, names replacement

Erik Martelo Robinson

Posted 15/09/2020

President Cortizo who appears to have been wearing blinkers in the face of ethical violations by high profile members of his administration after promising to show no mercy, to transgressors moved with alacrity on Tuesday, September 15 to fire the Governor of Guna Yala, Erik Martelo Robinson who was caught transporting drugs at dawn the same day.

"I have instructed the Minister of Government to proceed with the immediate dismissal of the governor of Kuna Yala, by virtue of an inadmissible criminal act. I reiterate my commitment to zero tolerance with practices that violate the ethics to which all public officials are subject," said a Twitter posting

 Units of the National Police Intelligence Directorate seized 79 packages of drugs, inside a vehicle, in Las Garzas, Pacora.

"The illicit substance was located, under the seats of the vehicle that presents alterations in its structure. There are two Panamanians apprehended for investigation, “ said the National Police Twitter account.

 Cortizo also moved swiftly to name a successor, Alexis Alvarado as the new governor of Guna Yala. "We are confident that his performance will meet the expectations that our government sets in his ability and honesty," said the president.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/cortizo-fires-drug-carrying-governor-names-replacement

 

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Former governor in detention amid  concerns over cartels’ political links

Posted 17/09/2020

The former governor of Guna Yala Erick Iván Martelo Robinson, who was fired on Tuesday after being caught transporting packets of cocaine is in preventive detention facing drug charges possession charges aggravated by drug and car modification that could lead to a 16-20 year jail term.

He was arrested along with his friend Rogelio Alba, a  Ministry of Government driver en route to  Chepo.

Martelo, a member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), was apprehended on Monday night after an intelligence and monitoring operation  He and his companion they were detained at the police checkpoint in Las Garzas de Pacora.

When his vehicle was searched, the competent authorities found 79 packages of cocaine under the front seats in a  hidden compartment.

The judicial authorities already had their eye on the former governor and through the operation called 'Luxor', they followed up and captured him. The anti-drug department with intelligence information set up the checkpoint.

The authorities were already aware of illicit operations in the area with potential family involvement.

The arrest has re-ignited concerns about the growing influence of drug cartels in Panama politics.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/former-governor-in-detention-amid-concerns-over-cartels-political-links

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Inteligencia siguió a exgobernador durante dos meses antes de su detención

Juan Manuel Díaz C.

18 sep 2020 - 11:29 PM

Un juez de garantías ordenó la detención preventiva del exgobernador de Guna Yala Erick Martelo. Archivo

 

Durante dos meses unidades de inteligencia de la Policía Nacional y de la Fiscalía de Drogas dieron seguimiento al destituido gobernador de Guna Yala Erick Iván Martelo. Los investigadores sospechan, incluso, que hizo dos viajes hacia la capital para traficar estupefacientes.

Fuentes ligadas a la investigación revelaron que surgieron indicios de la posible vinculación del exgobernador con una red que introducía droga hacia la ciudad Panamá. Pese a las sospechas, al exrepresentante del Ejecutivo en la comarca no se le detuvo. Sin embargo, durante una operación efectuada el pasado 14 de septiembre, las autoridades ya tenían certeza de que el vehículo con doble fondo en el que viajaba transportaba drogas.

Por ello se coordinó su detención en el puesto de control de Las Garzas de Pacora, donde, en efecto, se detectó que el carro llevaba 79 kilos de cocaína.

Allí se pudo ubicar que la droga había sido ocultada en un compartimento en la parte delantera del auto.

Lea aquí: Vehículo que usaba el exgobernador, pieza clave en caso de tráfico de cocaína

La labor de registro se extendió por más tres horas, ya que inició a las 12:20 a.m. y terminó a las 3:45 a.m., cuando se inició el conteo de la droga.

Las autoridades se encuentran tras la pista de las personas que modificaron el auto en el que fueron detenidos Martelo y Rogelio Alba Peña.

El pasado 17 de septiembre un juez de garantías ordenó la detención de Martelo y Alba por el delito de tráfico de drogas.

Martelo fue destituido del cargo de gobernador de Guna Yala por orden del presidente de la República, Laurentino Cortizo.

 

Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article.

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Intelligence followed the former governor for two months before his arrest

Juan Manuel Díaz C.
Sep 18, 2020 - 11:29 PM

<<governor.jpg>>
A judge of guarantees ordered the preventive detention of former Guna Yala Governor Erick Martelo. Archive

For two months intelligence units of the National Police and the Drug Prosecutor's Office followed up on the dismissed governor of Guna Yala Erick Iván Martelo. Investigators even suspect that he made two trips to the capital to traffic narcotics.

Sources linked to the investigation revealed that indications emerged of the possible connection of the former governor with a network that introduced drugs to Panama City. Despite suspicions, the former representative of the Executive in the region was not detained. However, during an operation carried out on September 14, the authorities were already certain that the double bottom vehicle in which he was traveling was carrying drugs.

For this reason, his arrest was coordinated at the Las Garzas de Pacora checkpoint, where, in effect, it was detected that the car was carrying 79 kilos of cocaine.

There it was found that the drug had been hidden in a compartment in the front of the car.

Read here: Vehicle used by the former governor, a key element in the case of cocaine trafficking

The registration work lasted for more than three hours, since it began at 12:20 a.m. and ended at 3:45 a.m., when the drug count began.

The authorities are on the trail of the people who modified the car in which Martelo and Rogelio Alba Peña were arrested.

On September 17, a guarantee judge ordered the arrest of Martelo and Alba for the crime of drug trafficking.

Martelo was removed from the post of governor of Guna Yala by order of the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo.

 

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/inteligencia-siguio-a-exgobernador-durante-dos-meses-antes-de-su-detencion/