Panamanian 20-ton drug haul belongs to Mexican cartel
The 20 tons of cocaine seized in Panamanian waters last Sunday belonged to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, local press quoted the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as saying Wednesday.

The drugs were seized aboard merchant ship Gatun Panama in Panamanian waters while it was heading toward the United States with the help of Panama's Marine Management & Chartering Inc.

Eight Mexicans and seven Panamanians were arrested in the joint operation by Panama's Second Drugs and Narcotics Prosecutor and the DEA.

Two other Mexicans Luis Ernesto Mondragon and Jose Alonso Nunez,who were responsible for making sure the drugs were prepared for shipment, were also arrested Sunday.

With the help of Panamanian companies, Panama has become a key transit point for U.S.-bound drugs from South America, the DEA said in Washington.

Panamanian and U.S. authorities seized 11 tons of cocaine last week and a nine-man crew of a Panamanian-registered boat in international waters in the Pacific off the Panamanian coast.