Instalaciones Aéreas y Marítimas

Associated PressNov 2nd, 2009
Panama building 4 anti-drug sea, air stationsPANAMA CITY —

Panama's government is building four air and seamonitoring stations to fight trafficking of drugs, weapons and migrants.The bases are to be located on the Pacific coast on routes used tosmuggle drugs and transport laundered money.

Assistant Interior Minister Alejandro Garuz said Monday the sites willbe manned by the national police, border agents and other governmentagencies.He says the bases are a completely Panamanian initiative and the UnitedStates will not be involved.

An agreement to expand the use of bases in neighboring Colombia by U.S.troops for anti-drug and other missions has drawn criticism in the region.