More competition for Mexican drug cartels. Oops, there goes the plans for more tunnels under the Rio Grande.
11 July 2016
Written by James Bargent
Interpol has warned that drug traffickers (click here) could capitalize on the expansion of the Panama Canal, in a reminder of the crucial but often under reported role of maritime shipping in the global drug trade.
11 July 2016
Written by James Bargent
Interpol has warned that drug traffickers (click here) could capitalize on the expansion of the Panama Canal, in a reminder of the crucial but often under reported role of maritime shipping in the global drug trade.
"The recent widening of the Panama Canal brings new opportunities for the country, but it also opens up new opportunities for criminals," said Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock, who was speaking at the inauguration of the International Police Regional Conference of the Americas in Panama City.
The $5.2 billion expansion of the canal, which was inaugurated last month, has doubled the canal's capacity for shipping containers. A significant increase on the 6 percent of world trade that already passes through the canal is now expected.
Speaking at the same event, Panama police chief Omar Pinzon said the police were ready for the new challenges this increase presents.
"Panama is an enormous platform for global trade and, for this reason, it cannot be ruled out that the ships that pass through the canal will be used by criminal bands, but we are prepared for whatever is coming," Pinzon said....
