Costa Rica and Panama strengthen alliance to combat organized crime on the border: "We are not afraid of them"

Costa Rica and Panama agreed to strengthen police cooperation to combat the threats of transnational organized crime. Credit: MSPThe governments of Costa Rica and Panama agreed to strengthen their security cooperation to combat the threats of transnational organized crime, through a joint strategy that includes information sharing, coordination of operational actions, and the strengthening of surveillance mechanisms along the border shared by both nations. The commitment was reaffirmed on Thursday, November 12, 2026, during a meeting of the Binational Border Commission (Combifron), held in the city of David, province of Chiriquí, Panama, with the participation of the top security authorities of both countries. The meeting was led by Costa Rica's Minister of Public Security, Gerald Campos Valverde, and his Panamanian counterpart, Frank Alexis Ábrego, who agreed on the need to maintain a coordinated response against criminal organizations operating beyond national borders. During his remarks, Campos issued a warning to criminal groups and stated that both governments will maintain a firm stance against their activities. "We must remain strong and united. I send a clear message to criminals: we are not afraid of you. We will continue working together to anticipate and prevent these criminal groups from taking our young people. We have a duty to protect our future leaders," said the Costa Rican official. One of the main objectives of the alliance is to prevent criminal organizations from taking advantage of the geographic and operational conditions of the border to carry out illicit activities. According to Costa Rica's Ministry of Public Security, the cooperation will focus on improving information sharing between the authorities of both countries, as well as strengthening the coordination of police interventions along the border zone. The joint work seeks to facilitate the early identification of potential threats and increase the response capacity of the institutions responsible for security. The importance of this coordination lies in the fact that transnational criminal organizations can carry out activities in different territories, which requires constant communication between authorities to prevent and confront their operations. The agreement also includes strengthening the operational capabilities of the security forces. The Costa Rican Minister of Public Security warned criminal groups that both countries will maintain a firm stance against their activities. Credit: MSPFor his part, Panamanian Minister Frank Ábrego reiterated his government's willingness to deepen cooperation mechanisms with Costa Rica, under principles of respect for national sovereignty and the legal framework of each state. The official emphasized that security actions must be carried out respecting the competencies of the institutions of both countries, with the purpose of ensuring that the collaboration is effective and remains within the corresponding legal frameworks. Ábrego also noted that border security should not be limited to territorial surveillance, but should also help protect families and bring peace of mind to the communities living near the border. From this perspective, the cooperation seeks to prevent criminal organizations from finding favorable conditions to establish operations and endanger the safety of residents. During the meeting, the authorities also highlighted the importance of preventing criminal organizations from recruiting young people into their structures. Campos insisted that police efforts must be accompanied by a preventive vision that protects new generations from the threats of organized crime. In this regard, the binational coordination aims to strengthen the capacity of both states to anticipate risks and prevent criminal activities from affecting border communities. The authorities believe that a joint response can help reduce the operating space of these organizations and improve security conditions in both territories.