BRIEFS: Legal

Drug tests ordered for marijuana growers

The First Prosecutor for Drugs has ordered drug tests for Milton Reyes and Luis Sánchez Torrijos, a relative of Panamanian president Martín Torrijos, following their arrest earlier this month in connection with a marijuana growing operation in the Twin Towers apartment building on Calle 47 in Bella Vista.

Police seized more than 200 marijuana plants in a raid on the building. Reyes and Torrijos claim they were cultivating the plants for personal use. The drug tests were ordered to determine whether they are in fact marijuana users or were possibly growing the plants for sale.

Nearly all of the plants confiscated were ready for harvesting, processing, and consumption, according to one source. The prosecutor's office estimates the harvest would have yielded 500 pounds of the illegal herb.

In Panama, a pound of ordinary marijuana, including the dried leaves, stems, seeds and flowers sells for $25. Individual marijuana cigarettes sell for $1 each.