Crime

Police seize trucks from company

VÍCTOR AROSEMENA/LA PRENSA

State property: Police have seized more than 100 trucks from a Chiriquí company. They were allegedly used to smuggle drugs. 960824

Police will begin testing trucks confiscated from a Chiriquí company for drug residue as part of their ongoing investigation into a gambling and drug smuggling operation they think was masterminded by the company's owner.

Police have seized 125 cargo trucks that belonged to Constructora y Servicio Yorkín. They have also arrested Yorkín's owner, Irma Ortíz and seven of her associates on a variety of drug, gambling and money laundering charges.

Police said 12 kilos of cocaine were discovered in one of the trucks in March, which started the investigation into the company. That probe helped police uncover a massive illegal lottery allegedly run by Ortíz and her associates. The lottery sold between $160,000 and $200,000 worth of tickets each week.

Ortíz and seven others, including her husband, Ceferino Marín, were arrested Dec. 17.

Police have allowed 40 of Yorkín's trucks to remain in use by the Cooperativa de Servicios Múltiples de Puerto Armuelles (Cosemupar) to transport bananas. Cosemupar had an agreement to lease the trucks, paying Yorkín $3 million a year.

Authorities have also seized 18 farms owned by Ortíz, all of which were larger than 140 hectares.

There is also an investigation into the connection between Ortíz and Panameñista Deputy Miguel Fanovich.

Valentín Ortíz, Irma Ortíz's son and one of those arrested on Dec. 17, was an employee of the deputy. Fanovich fired Valentín Ortíz shortly after his arrest. Police are now saying that another employee of Irma Ortíz, Berta Serrano, told them that part of her salary was paid by the deputy. She was also one of the eight people charged.

Fanovich said Serrano did work for his office, but her activities there were not related to Ortiz's company. He has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the case, and has not been criminally charged.