Panama Issues - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Disputes - international

organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 80,024 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2021)

Illicit drugs

major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem

NOTE: The information regarding Panama on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Panama 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Panama 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.