The National Border Service (SENAFRONT) of Panama reported on Wednesday that authorities have discovered the bodies of ten migrants who drowned while attempting to cross the Darién Gap.
According to a statement, "Transnational organized crime, through local collaborators from these coastal Caribbean communities, continues to use unauthorized crossings, putting the lives of these individuals at grave risk." The discovery was made near the community of Carreto, prompting SENAFRONT to notify the Public Ministry. This step was taken because there are suspicions that the bodies may have been buried to conceal connections to criminal activities related to human trafficking.
The Darién Gap spans an area of 17,000 square kilometers. This year, authorities recorded 213,702 migrant arrivals, which is 9,000 fewer than the previous year. In July alone, there were 12,632 migrants who entered through the Darién jungle.
For more information on migration challenges in Central America, you can visit organizations like Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2024/07/24/panama-halla-los-cuerpos-de-al-menos-diez-migrantes-muertos-tras-una-crecida-en-el-tapon-del-darien/
