Panamanian authorities reported that 267 foreigners were refused admission to Panama at the Tocumen International Airport in January 2024 for not meeting immigration requirements. Most offenders were Colombian, Ecuadorian, Jamaican, Dominican, Peruvian, Guatemalan, Chinese, and Cuban.
The refusals include 75 travellers with criminal records for aggravated robbery, drug trafficking, domestic violence, homicide, rape, aggravated fraud and other crimes. They were returned to their place of origin.
Immigration authorities added that five travellers from China, three from Angola, two from Nepal, one from Mozambique, one from Congo, one from Cuba and one from the Dominican Republic tried to enter Panama or fly in transit with fraudulent documentation.
During standard interviews with travellers, immigration authorities noted 155 inconsistencies where passengers did not have a defined tourism plan, did not have proof of financial means or did not have a visa.
In addition to foreign travellers, three Panamanian citizens were referred to the competent authority due to pending cases related to various crimes.
