Panamanian authorities have successfully dismantled a human trafficking ring that specialized in smuggling Chinese migrants through the treacherous Darien Gap, a perilous jungle corridor connecting Panama and Colombia. The ring, responsible for facilitating the journey of Chinese nationals across one of the most dangerous migrant routes in the world, was disrupted following the arrest of 15 individuals.
The crackdown comes amid a broader effort by Panama's newly inaugurated president, José Raúl Mulino, to curb illegal migration. Since taking office on July 1, Mulino has implemented stringent measures to manage the influx of migrants entering the country. His administration's early efforts have already yielded results, with a significant reduction in the number of migrants crossing the border. In late July, the National Border Service reported that 11,363 migrants had crossed the border since the start of the month, nearly 9,000 fewer than the same period last year.
Jorge Gobea, the director general of the National Border Service, attributed the decline to strategic interventions, including the installation of approximately three miles of barbed wire along five trails. "We closed more than five clandestine routes which were used by organized crime to mobilize migrants from Colombia to Panama," Gobea stated. "The intention was to channel this flow, not to interrupt it, but to send them through one sole route."
The arrests involved the seizure of 11 vehicles, two dozen cell phones, a rifle, and cash. The suspects were allegedly orchestrating the movement of Chinese migrants, who have become the fourth-largest nationality to use the Darien Gap route. This path, which saw over 500,000 crossings in 2023, is notorious for its dangers, including rough terrain, wildlife, and criminal activity.
This crackdown is part of a wider regional effort to manage the rising number of Chinese migrants traveling through Latin America. Ecuador recently suspended its visa waiver agreement with China following a surge in arrivals, noting that a significant number of Chinese nationals were not exiting the country through regular routes within the 90-day period allowed under the agreement. The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry described the trend as "worrying" and highlighted the disparity between arrivals and departures. In 2023, Ecuador recorded 48,381 arrivals of Chinese nationals but only 24,240 departures.
The United States has also intensified its efforts to manage the influx of Chinese migrants. In early July, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted its first large deportation flight of Chinese nationals since 2018. The flight, which carried 116 individuals, marked a significant step in U.S. immigration enforcement. The DHS has indicated plans for more such flights, aiming to address the increasing number of Chinese citizens attempting to enter the country unlawfully.
In 2023 alone, U.S. authorities apprehended over 37,000 Chinese nationals at the southern border, a dramatic increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to heightened political repression in various regions of China, including Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The influx reached nearly 6,000 in December alone, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
