U.S. Department of State Classifies Panama as Drug Gateway
The U.S. State Department released its 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, and Panama is evaluated as “the mouth of the funnel” for the South American drug trade into the United States, starting on page 493 of the 668 page document.
According to the U.S. government, the presence of organized crime operating the trade in Panamanian territory bodes badly for democracy in the Central American mouth of the funnel. Noted is the growth in trafficking through Panama by Colombian and Mexican organizations, among others. The report also says that the armed rebels on the Darien border are not helping the situation.
Statistics showed an increase from 11.1 homicides per 100,000 people in 2006 to 23.2 per 100,000 in 2009, as well as drug seizures in the amounts of 52.4 tons of cocaine and 1.8 tons of marijuana in 2009.
I think this warrants US occupation.