With all these Tats, it should be easy to pick these guys out in a crowd, kind of like a target.  The head of the investigation by the Honduran National Anti-extortion Force, Fausto Daniel Rodriguez, ruled out the presence in Panama today of Maras and Salvatruchas gangs, based in Guatemala and El Salvador.

As a guest of the National Lawyers’ College as part of a workshop against violence and the risks for Panama of the strategic evolution of those gangs, the official said that the threat that they reach Panama would always exist, bu now, they were not operating in his country.

He explained that the aforementioned groups constantly seek to expand and they are present in Spain and Italy, and said the work by the Government authorities was good, regarding prevention to avoid that they reach Panamanian territory.

There are gangs in Panama that commit crimes, but not at the levels of those that operate in the countries of the so-called north triangle. Those operating here have the weapons used by Maras, which have penetrated the security and administrative authorities, he siad.

In Ropdriguez’ opinion, Nicaragua has played an essential role in avoiding contacts between the gangs that operate in Panama and Maras, because it has a strong intelligence service.