President Cortizo participates in the delivery ceremony of 8 UH-1ST helicopters donated by the United States Government

The President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, participated in the delivery ceremony of 8 twin-engine UH-1ST helicopters of the INL-SENAN Aviation Program, an activity that took place at the Teniente Octavio Rodríguez Garrido Air Base, located in Panama Pacifico.

“I take this moment to thank the Government of the United States of America, through its diplomatic representation here, for the relations of mutual cooperation and goodwill that our two nations maintain,” said President Cortizo Cohen.

He highlighted that the air capacity that our country has today contributes to greater efficiency in the operations of the INL-SENAN Program, especially in the fight against drug trafficking and irregular migration.

With this delivery, 6 single-engine UH-1S helicopters are replaced by the INL-SENAN Aviation Program, to be incorporated into the flight line.

These aircraft are made available by the United States Government through the International Office of Anti-Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the United States Embassy in Panama, with an initial investment of B/.11.3 million, in order to continue protecting Panama's borders in the fight against drug trafficking, irregular migration and related crimes.

This contribution is part of all the international collaboration that is carried out in compliance with Amendment 27 of the CARSI-MERIDA Agreement between both nations.

These new aircraft also contribute to reinforcing relief operations at binational posts, as well as humanitarian tasks that include search and rescue and aeromedical evacuations for the benefit of the Panamanian population throughout the territory.

Since 2014, the INL-SENAN Aviation Program has used 6 single-engine UH-1H(S) model helicopters for operations against drug trafficking and irregular migration under the 23rd Amendment. In 2019, the United States Government donated the 6 UH-1H(S) helicopters for the continuity of the Program and its mission.

On February 28, 2023, Amendment 27 was signed, a maneuver that seeks to replace the old helicopters with 8 twin-engine UH-1ST model helicopters, with the aim of expanding the response in the mission it performs. 

The United States ambassador to Panama, Mari Carmen Aponte, participated in this morning's activity; the governor, Carla García; the Minister of Security, Juan Manuel Pino; the Attorney General of the Nation, Javier Caraballo, among other authorities.