According to the director of the National Migration Service (SNM), Roger Mojica, until November, some 295,000 people had passed through the Darien jungle on their way to the United States, while 520,000 did so until the same month last year.

In November alone, 9,000 illegal travelers entered the jungle, in constras to 22,000 in October, a considerable drop.

In addition to the most recent rains, the official told reporters that these results are influenced by measures adopted by the Executive, such as the closure of illegal trails, the opening of a single route to improve control of undocumented immigrants, the increase in maritime patrols and the repatriation flights that are carried out after the signing of a memorandum with the United States on July 1.

Mojica added that more than 30 air operations were carried out and 1,400 undocumented immigrants have been repatriated, especially to Colombia and Ecuador, as well as India and Vietnam, one of the last extracontinental flights.

He explained that irregular migration through Panama is controlled by criminal gangs like the Gulf Clan from Colombia, which profits from human trafficking.

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