On the social network Twitter, prosecutor Eduardo Rodríguez from the province of Colón said that they also arrested three people of Colombian nationality who are believed to have been transporting the illegal substances, believed to be cocaine, from the neighboring South American country.
The three people arrested in that operation would appear before a magistrate in the next few hours, he said.
He added that the operation was carried out in cooperation with the National Border Service on the islands of Chichime Chica and Chichime Grande of the Guna Yala indigenous region.
The official explained that this type of ship, also called Low Profile, sails with three parts of its structure underwater, making it difficult to spot.
It is the first ship of this type to be in the Caribbean marine sector, since it is more often used in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and is less aggressive for its type.
According to Rodríguez, the operation seized 37.2 tons of drugs in that region, accounting for 45 percent of all drugs seized in the country so far this year.
The United States is the main market for drugs from South America and their smugglers use the Channel State as a bridge.
According to Security Minister Juan Manuel Pino, Panama seized 128.7 tons of drugs in 2021, almost 40 tons more than its previous historic record for drug seizures set in 2019.
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