Panama’s Vice Minister of Public Safety has announced the country spent $250 million to stem drug trafficking in the country and to specifically avoid having the drugs enter Panama’s borders.

A large portion of the funds will go to fund a radar system along the country’s coastline to alert it of any drug trafficking activity.  Panama, Mexico, Colombia and the U.S. will manage the radar system. 

Thus far this month the country has installed 19 radars which will track and detect ships and aircraft that are suspected of trafficking drugs.  The data generated will be shared amongst the four countries. 

Panama also purchased helicopters to patrol its coastline.  The country is considered a coke corridor for traffickers moving drugs between Mexico and South America.