Last modified: 2025-04-12 by daniel rentería
Keywords: panama | public security | public forces | police | border service | immigration service | aeronaval service |
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Panama abolished its army shortly after its independence from Colombia in 1903. Today the Panamanian Public Forces are the national security forces of Panama.
Panama is the second country in Latin America (the other being Costa Rica) to permanently abolish its standing army. Panama maintains armed police and security forces,
and small air and maritime forces. They are tasked with law enforcement and can perform limited military actions. Since 2010 they have reported of the Ministry of Public Security.
Their flags can be seen at [1] and [2].
Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024
image by Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024The Ministry of Public Security (in charge of security policies and affairs), oversight of security forces including the National Police, National Border Service, National Aeronaval Service and the National Immigration Service).
Flag of the Ministry is white with its emblem in the center of the flag. The emblem is a white disc charged with a sword and two stars, one is blue, the other one is red. They are flanked by a green wreath, a white scroll bears the motto: „Security, Peace, Prevention”. The legend of disc is name of the ministry and name of the country. All inscriptions are Spanish, of course.
Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024
image by Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024
The National Police of Panama (Policía Nacional de Panamá) is the national police of Panama, under the Panamanian Public Forces. Established by the National Police Act No. 18 of June 3, 1997, it is responsible for maintaining public order nationwide.
Its flag is black with its emblem in the center of the flag. The name of Police is written over the emblem in an arc with white letters.
Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024
image by Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024
The National Border Service, (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras), is a police force specialized in the land border area and branch of the Panamanian Public Forces. Its mission is to protect Panama’s land borders and protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and protect rights and freedoms of people, maintain public order, prevent and investigate crimes within their jurisdictions. It was created in 2008.
Its flag is brown with its emblem in the center of the flag. The name of organization is placed over the emblem, while country name and independence year are written under the emblem.
Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024
image by Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024
The National Migration Service (Servicio Nacional de Migración) is in charge of controlling the migratory movements of people in the national territory of Panama. This institution is attached to the Ministry of Public Security of Panama. The first appearance of the National Migration Service was in 1950 through the creation of the Immigration and Naturalization Section, which was attached at that time to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the same was included in the Department of Migration and Naturalization, the latter had already been operating since 1942.
Its flag is white with its yellow shield in the center of the flag. The name of the organization is written over the badge in an arc with black letters.
Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024
image by Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024
The National Aeronaval Service of Panama, (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval), is a branch of the Panamanian Public Forces which is responsible for carrying out naval and air operations. Its role is to perform protection, surveillance, security and defense of the air and maritime jurisdictional areas.
Its flag is blue its emblem in the center of the flag. The emblem consists of a compass, air wings, a rifle and an anchor representing its responsibilities on land, in the air and at sea. A yellow scroll charged with the motto: “Dios, Patria, Honor” (God, Country, Honor). The name of the organization is written over the emblem (in Spanish).
Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024
image by Zoltán Horváth, 26 August 2024