The Ministry of Public Security received four K1000 long-range remotely piloted aircraft systems (drones) on Wednesday, September 16, valued at more than $6 million, according to the US Embassy. According to official information, the equipment was financed by the United States Southern Command and will be incorporated into the operational capabilities of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan). The drones will be used for surveillance in border areas and maritime zones, as well as to support operations related to combating drug trafficking, human trafficking and other criminal activities.
On the left, the United States Ambassador to Panama, Kevin Marino Cabrera. In the middle, the Minister of Security, Frank Ábrego.
The handover ceremony was attended by the United States Ambassador to Panama, Kevin Marino Cabrera, and the Panamanian Minister of Security, Frank Ábrego, and took place at the Lieutenant Octavio Rodríguez Garrido Air Base in Panama Pacifico. It should be noted that the attendance of the Minister of Public Security, Frank Ábrego, at the delivery of the drones, generated questions from the deputy of the Vamos coalition, Jonathan Vega. During the presentation of the budget of the Ministry of Public Security before the respective committee of the National Assembly, the minister’s team reported that he had to leave the session to attend the reception of the equipment.
Following the announcement, Vega took the floor and questioned why the minister and other officials from the institution had left the committee meeting to attend the event. The congressman pointed out that, at that moment, Ábrego was presenting the budget for an institution whose total exceeds $1.7 billion. He added that the equipment could be received by a subordinate official of the ministry, while the head continued with the budget presentation. “Those drones can be received by any of his subordinates,” the deputy stated, before reiterating that, in his opinion, the budget presentation should remain a priority during the session.
The delivery comes two months after the manufacturer announced the arrival of K1000ULE systems in Panama. At that time, the information published by Kraus Hamdani Aerospace did not specify the number of aircraft or the value of the transaction. Later, the Ministry of Security confirmed that it was a donation from the United States Government and indicated that the drones would be incorporated into the Senan’s Unmanned Aircraft Squadron to strengthen the surveillance of air and sea spaces, borders and operations against organized crime and drug trafficking.
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