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National Border Service

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National Border Service
Servicio Nacional de Fronteras de la República de Panamá
SENAFRONT emblem
SENAFRONT emblem
AbbreviationSENAFRONT
MottoDios Y Patria
God and Country
Agency overview
FormedAugust 8, 2008
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionPanama
Constituting instrument
  • Decree Law No. 8, 2008[1]
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
  • National border patrol, security, and integrity.
Operational structure
Sworn members3,624 officers (2013)[2]
Unsworn members123 personnel (2013)[2]
Elected officer responsible
  • Juan Manuel Pino Forero, Minister of Public Security
Agency executives
  • Oriel Ortega Benitez[3], Director General
  • Roger E. Mojica R.[3], Deputy Director General
Parent agencyPanamanian Public Forces
Notables
Anniversary
  • August 8
Website
www.senafront.gob.pa

The National Border Service, also called SENAFRONT (abbreviation for Spanish: 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.[1]

Created in 2008, it is the border guard branch of the Panamanian Public Forces.

Background

In case of emergency or a foreign attack on Panama, SENAFRONT is the principal entity of the security forces trained to plan, organize, direct and execute all actions that ensure the security of the territory and population within the sovereign jurisdiction of the land territories of Panama with attachment and loyalty to constitutional and legal order established in the country.

The Service was established in 2008, with Frank Abrego as its first Director General on the basis of the Border Police Directorate of the National Police.[4][5]

Structure

The SENAFRONT is headed by a Director General, which is appointed by President of Panama with the recommendation of the Minister of Public Security per article 14 of Decree Law No. 8 of August 20, 2008.

At its foundation it had one brigade, the 1st (Southeastern) Border Brigade organized into the following:

  • Brigade HQ
  • Caribbean Battalion
  • Central Battalion
  • Pacific Battalion
  • Fluvial Battalion Sambu
  • General José De Fabregas Border Battalion
  • Service Support Battalion

The 2nd Border Brigade, raised in 2008, is responsible for the Caribbean coast segments of the border and is organized into and HQ and 4 subordinate battalions:

  • Puerto Obaldía Battalion
  • Nargana Battalion
  • Ustupu Battalion
  • Support Battalion

The then Western Battalion provided border security on the Costa Rica border, in 2017 it was transformed into the basis of the 4th Border Brigade and split into two battalions in 2020. The 4th Brigade is organized into a HQ and the following:

  • Guapito Battalion
  • Second Lieutenant (Border) Aurelio Serracín Border Battalion
  • COL Tomás Armuelles Brder Battalion
  • Support Battalion

In 2020 the 3rd East Panama Brigade was raised to support law enforcement and border operations in Panama Province and Madungandí Township. Its ORBAT is organized as:

  • Brigade HQ
  • Chepo Battalion
  • Torti Battalion
  • Support Battalion

The 5th Special Forces Brigade is made up of a Special Forces Battalion, Special Boat Unit and a Motorized Infantry Battalion. The Special Forces battalion is organized into a headquarters and 3 companies as follows:

  • Reconnaissance Company and Combat Anti-Narcotics (RECOM).
  • Jungle Operations Company.
  • Cobra Assault and Infiltration.

The brigade also handles K-9 and SAR operations.

Its agents are often trained by the United States Army as there are daily clashes with FARC guerrillas on the border with Colombia.

Ranks

Commissioned officer ranks
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Panama National Border Service[6]
Director General Subdirector General Comisionado Subcomisionado Mayor Capitán Teniente Subteniente
Other ranks
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Panama National Border Service[6]
 No insignia
Sargento primero Sargento segundo Cabo primero Cabo segundo Agente

Equipment

Small arms

Name Origin Photo Type
Glock 17  Austria 9×19mm Semiautomatic pistol
CZ Scorpion Evo 3  Czech Republic File:CZ Scorpion Evo 3.jpg 9×19mm submachine gun
Colt M16 Assault Rifle[7]  United States Assault rifle
Colt M4 carbine[8]  United States Carbine
IMI Galil ACE  Israel/ Colombia Carbine
T65 Assault Rifle[9]  Taiwan Assault rifle
AKMS  Soviet Union Assault rifle
AMD-65  Hungary Carbine
AK-103  Russia Assault rifle
SVD Dragunov  Soviet Union Semiautomatic sniper rifle
M40A5 rifle  United States Bolt-action sniper rifle
Barrett M82  United States Semiautomatic sniper rifle
FN Minimi  Belgium Light machine gun
M60 machine gun  United States General Purpose Machine Gun
FN MAG[10]  Belgium General Purpose Machine Gun
PK machine gun  Soviet Union General Purpose Machine Gun
Browning M1919A4  United States General Purpose Machine Gun
M2HB Browning  United States Heavy Machine Gun
M203 grenade launcher  United States 40mm grenade launcher
RPG-7  Soviet Union rocket-propelled Grenade
RPG-18  Soviet Union rocket-propelled Grenade

Artillery

Name Origin Caliber Photos
M30 Mortar  United States 107mm
Soltam 60mm mortar  Israel 60mm
M19 mortar  United States 60mm

Vehicles

Name Origin Type Photos
Humvee  United States light utility vehicle
Jeep J8  United States Gunship BPV -Border Patrol Vehicle More Than 100 approximately vehicle actually[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Decreto Ley No. 8 – Que crea el Servicio Nacional de Fronteras de la República de Panamá (PDF) (8) (in Spanish). República de Panamá Órgano Ejecutivo. 20 August 2008.
  2. ^ a b Donadio 2013, p. 148.
  3. ^ a b "Nosotros". senafront.gob.pa. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Frank Ábrego, el zar de Darién". La Prensa. Feb 8, 2015. Retrieved Oct 20, 2019.
  5. ^ Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Varela designa a Cristian Enrique Hayer nuevo director de Senafront". La Estrella de Panamá. Retrieved Oct 20, 2019.
  6. ^ a b "REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ MINISTERIO DE GOBIERNO Y JUSTICIA DECRETO EJECUTIVO Nº 103" (PDF).
  7. ^ Special forces recognition guide. Collins. 2005. p. 446. ISBN 9780007183296.
  8. ^ "The Gun Zone -- A 5.56 X 45mm "Timeline" 2008". 4 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-01-04. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  9. ^ Panama 1989-90. Osprey. ISBN 1855321564.
  10. ^ Jane's infantry weapons, 1995-96 (21st ed.). Jane's Information Group. May 1995. ISBN 978-0-7106-1241-0.
  11. ^ "Jeep J8". defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2019.
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