PANAMA CITY (AP) - Investigators in Panama conducted a significant operation on Thursday, removing documents from the offices of the Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based firm CK Hutchison. This company had been operating the ports at both ends of the Panama Canal until its concession was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in January 2026.

The operation was led by public prosecutor Azael Samaniego from the anti-corruption office. He confirmed that searches were conducted in three different Panama City offices belonging to the Panama Ports Company. In support of this operation, officials from the Panama Maritime Authority and investigators from the National Directorate of Judicial Investigation were also present. Samaniego noted that preliminary information raised suspicions of possible criminal activity, although he did not disclose specifics regarding the nature of the alleged crime. He emphasized that the investigation is still in its nascent stages.

The Panama Ports Company has not yet responded to media requests for comments regarding these events, and neither have Panamanian law enforcement agencies. These developments come shortly after the Panama Maritime Authority took control of the Balboa and Cristobal ports from the Panama Ports Company, following the Supreme Court ruling. The company has consistently rejected the court's decision, while the Chinese government has accused Panama's administration of yielding to pressures from the United States.

The legal conflicts surrounding the ports, which have been operated by CK Hutchison since 1997, have intensified, placing the company at the center of geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China. The Trump administration had previously expressed its discontent over the control of the ports by a Chinese entity, alleging that China was effectively running the canal. Both Panama and China have denied these claims.

The oversight and management of the Panama Canal and its associated ports are critical for international trade, making the concessions surrounding them a contentious issue both nationally and internationally. As these investigations unfold, the implications for Panamanian governance and foreign relations may prove significant, particularly in relation to its ties with the United States and China.