OSINT of Panama

This post is part of UNISHKA Research Service’s ongoing OSINT world series. If you’re interested in learning more, subscribe to our Substack and follow us on social media to stay in the loop. You can also visit our website to explore all the toolkits we’ve created so far: www.unishka.com/osint-world-series.

We regularly share country-specific OSINT toolkits, along with case studies, investigative tips, and real-world examples to support open-source investigations. Our goal is to provide journalists, analysts, and engaged citizens with actionable resources and insights.

If we’ve missed any good sources, just drop us a comment or send an email to abawer@unishka.com — we’ll make sure to add them to the toolkit!

We sincerely thank Mikel Viteri, an OSINT researcher, for collaborating with UNISHKA on the development of this toolkit. Other toolkits by Mikel are: Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, and Peru.

The Griffinfly is a new initiative from UNISHKA and DIGG, providing analysts with timely, accurate insights on Iran and the regional conflict. Access is currently free. Explore it today at www.thegriffinfly.com.

Entry #53 OSINT World Series

Open Data Portals & Statistical Sources

• INEC (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo) – Panama’s national statistics institute — census data, demographic surveys, economic indicators, and poverty statistics.

• MEF (Ministerio de Economia y Finanzas) – Public finance data, national budget, fiscal reports, debt statistics, and economic projections.

• BCB – Banco Nacional de Panama – State-owned bank data, financial system overview, and economic publications.

• World Bank Data – Panama – Development indicators, GDP, poverty, governance, and sectoral statistics.

• IMF – Panama Country Reports – Macroeconomic assessments, FSAP reports, Article IV consultations. The 2024 FSAP (Country Report 24/234) is a critical AML/CFT resource.

• ECLAC/CEPAL – Panama – Regional economic and social analysis covering Panama.

• Humanitarian Data Exchange – Panama – Humanitarian and crisis data for Panama.

• OEC – Observatory of Economic Complexity – Interactive trade and export data — key for identifying Colon Free Zone trade patterns and anomalies.

• UN Comtrade – Panama – Official UN trade statistics, essential for trade-based money laundering (TBML) investigations.

• ACP (Autoridad del Canal de Panama) – Panama Canal Authority: vessel traffic statistics, cargo data, toll revenues, and annual reports. Critical for maritime trade intelligence.

• Panama Stock Market (BVPSI)

Financial Intelligence & AML/CFT Framework

Regulatory & Supervisory Bodies

• UAF (Unidad de Analisis Financiero) – Panama’s Financial Intelligence Unit — primary AML/CFT body. Collects, analyzes, and disseminates financial intelligence on money laundering and terrorism financing.

• SBP (Superintendencia de Bancos de Panama) – Banking regulator and supervisor. Publishes financial stability reports, licensed bank lists, and AML compliance updates.

• SSNF (Superintendencia de Sujetos No Financieros) – Regulates non-financial obligated subjects including law firms acting as resident agents, real estate, casinos. Administers the RUBF beneficial ownership registry.

• SMV (Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores) – Securities market regulator — oversees brokers, investment funds, and capital markets.

• SSRP (Superintendencia de Seguros y Reaseguros) – Insurance and reinsurance sector regulator.

• MICI (Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias) – Ministry of Commerce — licenses financial companies, free trade zone operators, and corporate service providers.

• DGI (Direccion General de Ingresos) – Tax authority — RUC (taxpayer ID) verification and fiscal compliance records.

• CNBC (Comision Nacional contra el Blanqueo de Capitales) – National Commission against Money Laundering — coordinates the AML national risk assessment and inter-agency cooperation.

• Contraloria General de la Republica – Supreme audit institution — public expenditure oversight, procurement audits, and government contractor data.

Beneficial Ownership & Corporate Transparency

• RPP (Registro Publico de Panama) – Panama’s official public company registry. Free public search by company name or folio number. Covers sociedades anonimas, foundations, and limited companies.

• Panadata – Best third-party aggregator for RPP data. More user-friendly interface for company searches, director lookups, import records, tenders, and operation permits.

• RUBF – Beneficial Ownership Registry – Panama’s private beneficiary registry. Administered by SSNF. Not publicly accessible — only competent authorities can query. Understanding its scope is essential for assessing transparency gaps.

• OpenCorporates – Panama – Global corporate data aggregator with Panamanian entity records.

• OpenSanctions – Panama – Sanctioned individuals and entities connected to Panama.

International AML/CFT Assessments

• FATF – Panama Country Profile – Financial Action Task Force — Panama’s compliance status and grey listing history (June 2019 to October 2023).

• IMF FSAP – Panama AML/CFT Technical Note (2024) – – IMF Country Report No. 24/234. Most comprehensive recent analysis of Panama’s AML/CFT vulnerabilities, corporate sector, and beneficial ownership gaps.

• Basel AML Index – Panama – Annual ML/TF risk scoring by the Basel Institute on Governance.

• GAFILAT (FATF-Style Regional Body) – Latin America’s FATF regional body — typologies reports, risk assessments, and mutual evaluation methodology.

Offshore Structures, Shell Companies & Major Leaks

Core Investigative Databases

• ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database – Searchable database combining Panama Papers, Pandora Papers, Paradise Papers, Bahamas Leaks, and Offshore Leaks. Search by name to find offshore entities, officers, intermediaries, and jurisdictions.

• Panama Papers – ICIJ – – The 2016 investigation based on 11.5 million leaked files from Mossack Fonseca. Exposed 214,000+ offshore entities linked to world leaders, criminals, drug traffickers, and celebrities.

• Pandora Papers – ICIJ – – The 2021 investigation — 11.9 million files from 14 offshore service providers, including several Panama-linked firms. The largest journalism investigation in history.

• Paradise Papers – ICIJ – – 2017 investigation with 13.4 million records involving offshore structures connected to Panama.

• FinCEN Files – ICIJ – – 2020 investigation based on leaked US Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) — reveals major banks processing suspicious transactions routed through Panama.

Offshore Structure Vehicles: Key Investigation Points

• Colon Free Zone (ZLC) – Official Portal – The world’s second-largest free trade zone. A documented vehicle for trade-based money laundering, over-invoicing, and narco-money laundering. Company registrations and trade data available.

• Panama Canal Authority – Cargo Statistics – Cargo type, origin, destination, and vessel data transiting the Canal. Useful for identifying trade flow anomalies.

• Global Financial Integrity (GFI) – Research on trade misinvoicing, illicit financial flows, and Panama-specific TBML reports.

• Tax Justice Network – Financial Secrecy Index – Panama’s ranking and profile in the global financial secrecy index. Detailed analysis of corporate transparency gaps and banking secrecy indicators.

Sanctions, PEPs & Financial Crime Databases

• OFAC Sanctions Search (U.S. Treasury) – Search Panama-connected individuals and entities on US sanctions lists. Covers narco-trafficking, corruption, sanctions evasion, and Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNT).

• OpenSanctions – Aggregated global sanctions, PEP data, and criminal watchlists — highly effective for Panama entity screening.

Company Registries & Business Intelligence

• RPP (Registro Publico de Panama) – Official public registry — search active/inactive companies, foundation data, directors, and registration dates. Free public access.

• Panadata – Best third-party aggregator for RPP data. Includes import/export records, tenders, operation permits, and business intelligence.

• MICI – Business Registry & Licensing – Ministry of Commerce business registration, licensing, and investment window.

• DGI – RUC Taxpayer Lookup – Verify Panama’s Registro Unico de Contribuyentes (taxpayer ID) for companies and individuals.

• SBP – Licensed Banks Directory – Official list of licensed banks operating in Panama’s International Banking Centre. Key for shell bank risk identification.

• SMV – Securities Market Registry – Registered issuers, brokers, investment advisors, and securities filings.

• Info-Clipper – Panama Company Search – Dun and Bradstreet-sourced company profiles and credit data for Panamanian firms.

Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking & Security

• Insight Crime – Panama Profile – The definitive English-language source for organized crime analysis in Panama: drug trafficking networks, Darien Gap dynamics, gang profiles, state-criminal nexus, and port corruption.

• Organized Crime Index – Panama – GI-TOC scoring of Panama across all organized crime categories including criminality and resilience.

• UNODC – Panama – UN Office on Drugs and Crime: drug seizure statistics, trafficking route analysis, and law enforcement data.

• TRACCC – Illicit Trade in Central America (Panama) – George Mason University report on Panama as a regional hub for drugs, arms, and counterfeit goods trafficking.

• Global Peace Index – Panama – Country ranking on peacefulness and internal security conditions.

• Numbeo Crime Index – Panama – Crime perception data for Panama.

• World Prison Brief – Panama – Prison population data and incarceration trends.

• IOM – Darien Gap Migration & Smuggling Tracking – Real-time migration flow data and smuggling indicators through the Darien Gap — the primary land corridor from South America.

Corruption, Governance & Accountability

• Transparency International – Panama – – Corruption Perceptions Index, country reports, and governance assessments.

• TI Panama (Fundacion para el Desarrollo de la Libertad Ciudadana) – Panama’s national Transparency International chapter — the primary local anti-corruption watchdog.

• Panama Compra (SECP) – Panama’s official e-procurement portal — government tenders, contracts, and supplier registrations. Essential for tracking politically exposed procurement.

• Contraloria General – Audit & Procurement Data – Public audit reports, official asset declarations, and government expenditure oversight.

• Freedom House – Panama – Annual reports on political rights, civil liberties, and governance quality.

• Ministerio Publico – Fiscalia Anti-Corrupcion – Panama’s anti-corruption public prosecutor. Press releases on indictments, investigations, and financial crime prosecutions.

• ICIJ – Odebrecht / Lava Jato Coverage – ICIJ’s reporting on the Odebrecht multinational bribery scandal and its Panama dimension, including the Martinelli sons’ convictions.

• Global Integrity – Panama – Anti-corruption governance assessments and accountability indices.

Land, Property & Real Estate Intelligence

• RPP – Property Registry – Panama’s official land and property registry — ownership records, mortgages, encumbrances, and transfer history.

• MIVIOT (Ministerio de Vivienda y Ordenamiento Territorial) – Ministry of Housing — construction permits, housing market data, and territorial planning records.

• INEC – Real Estate & Construction Statistics – National statistics on construction permits, building activity, and property market trends.

• Panadata – Property Data – Property-linked company data extracted from the public registry.

• Global Financial Integrity – Real Estate TBML Reports – Research specifically on real estate as a money laundering vehicle in Panama and the Colon Free Zone.

People Search & Civil Records

• Tribunal Electoral de Panama – Electoral tribunal managing civil registration (births, deaths, marriages), ID verification, and voter rolls.

• TE – Cedula Lookup – Verify Panamanian national identity documents using Cedula number.

• Social Searcher – Multi-platform social media search for Panama-based profiles and content.

• DEA – Panama Fugitives – US DEA wanted persons connected to Panama.

• US BIS Entity List – Panama – Panama-based entities subject to US export controls and debarment.

Litigation, Judicial & Regulatory Records

Panama’s judiciary faces chronic independence concerns. The June 2024 acquittal of all 28 Mossack Fonseca defendants — including the firm’s founders — due to insufficient evidence and chain-of-custody failures was widely condemned by transparency advocates.

• Organo Judicial de Panama – Panama’s judicial branch — court decisions, case lookups, and judicial publications.

• Ministerio Publico – Prosecutions – Public prosecutor press releases on financial crime indictments and case progress.

• Gaceta Oficial Digital de Panama – Official government gazette — laws, decrees, corporate changes, and regulatory publications.

• Contraloria General – Reports – Government audit reports, asset declarations of public officials, and fiscal oversight.

• ASEP (Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Publicos) – Public services regulator — utility concessions, licensing decisions, and regulatory filings.

• IACHR – Panama – Inter-American Commission on Human Rights country documentation and precautionary measures.

Journalism, Media & Investigative Sources

Independent & Investigative Media

• La Prensa (Panama) – Panama’s most influential independent newspaper. Founded 1980. Key source for financial crime, corruption, and political coverage.

• La Estrella de Panama – One of Panama’s oldest newspapers — national political and financial coverage.

• Panama America – National newspaper with economic and political reporting.

• El Siglo – National daily with broad news coverage.

• Foco Panama – Independent investigative journalism focused on human rights and social justice.

• Newsroom Panama – English-language independent journalism on news, business, and expat affairs.

• The Panama News – Independent English-language online newspaper.

International Investigative & Financial Crime Coverage

• ICIJ – Panama Coverage Archive – All ICIJ investigations involving Panama, including the Panama Papers search database.

• Insight Crime – Panama – Organized crime, drug trafficking, and security analysis.

• El Pais – Panama – Spanish flagship daily with Panama financial and political coverage.

• Reuters – Panama – International newswire coverage of Panama.

• Bloomberg – Panama Finance – Financial and business news on Panama’s banking and economic sector.

Press Freedom Monitoring

• RSF (Reporters Without Borders) – Panama – Press freedom index and country reports documenting legal harassment of journalists.

• CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists) – Panama – Tracks journalist threats, legal actions, and press freedom violations.

Human Rights & Civil Society

• Human Rights Watch – Panama – – Country reports on governance, Darien Gap migrants, indigenous rights, and police accountability.

• Amnesty International – Panama – – Human rights reports and advocacy on Panama.

• CEJIL (Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional) – Regional human rights litigation and advocacy.

• IACHR – Panama – – Inter-American Commission on Human Rights country reports and legal proceedings.

• ICNL – Panama Civic Freedom Monitor – – Tracks civil society legal frameworks and civic space in Panama.

• TI Panama – Anti-corruption watchdog and civil society accountability work.

WHOIS, Domain & Cyber Intelligence

• NIC.pa – Domain Registry – Panama’s official .pa domain registration authority.

• Whois.domaintools.com – WHOIS lookups for any domain including .pa registrations.

• ViewDNS.info – WHOIS, DNS history, IP geolocation, and reverse IP lookups.

• crt.sh – Certificate Transparency Logs – SSL certificate records — useful for discovering subdomains of Panamanian financial entities.

• Shodan – Search for internet-connected devices and exposed infrastructure in Panama.

Maps, Maritime & Satellite Intelligence

• ACP – Panama Canal Traffic & Vessel Data – Vessel transits, cargo types, and maritime statistics from the Canal Authority.

• Marine Traffic – Panama – AIS real-time and historical vessel tracking in Panamanian waters, ports, and Canal approaches.

• FlightAware / FlightRadar24 – Aircraft tracking for private and government flights through Panama’s airspace.

• Google Earth / Earth Engine Timelapse – – Satellite time-series imagery — useful for Colon Free Zone infrastructure changes and Darien Gap land use monitoring.

• Global Forest Watch – Panama – Deforestation and land use change monitoring in the Darien region.

• Mapillary – Panama – Street-level imagery for urban reconnaissance in Panama City and Colon.

• IOM – Darien Gap Tracking – – Migration flow data and human smuggling indicators through the Darien.

Think Tanks & Research Institutions

• CSIS – Americas Program – – US think tank with analysis on Panama Canal security, governance, and organized crime.

• Wilson Center – Latin American Program – Research on Panamanian political economy and regional security issues.

• WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America) – Panama – Policy research on corruption, security, and governance in Panama.

• IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) – Panama – – Development projects, financial sector analysis, and governance research.

• Tax Justice Network – Global financial secrecy and tax haven research with Panama-specific reports and FSI scores.

• Global Financial Integrity (GFI) – Illicit financial flows research with multiple Panama-specific studies on TBML and capital flight.

• Basel Institute on Governance – Panama – AML/CFT risk scoring and governance research.

• Carnegie Endowment – Panama Governance – Governance and anti-corruption analysis for Panama.

Procurement, Tenders & Government Contracts

• Panama Compra (SECP) – Panama’s official e-procurement system — all government contracts and tenders.

• Contraloria General – Public Contracts – Audit authority with contract oversight and government expenditure tracking.

• TendersInfo – Panama – Aggregated international tender alerts including Panama.

• EU TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) – EU procurement portal including Panama-related contracts funded by EU institutions.

• ACP – Canal Procurement – Panama Canal Authority procurement notices and contractor data.

Miscellaneous & Additional Resources

• Internet Archive – Panama – Archived web content from Panamanian media and government sources.

• Bellingcat – Financial Crime OSINT Guides – Open-source investigation methodology and guides applicable to Panama research.

• Wikileaks – Panama Cables – Leaked US diplomatic cables referencing Panama including narco-corruption concerns.

• CCIAP (Camara de Comercio, Industrias y Agricultura) – Panama Chamber of Commerce — business directory and trade data.

• SAPI – Intellectual Property Registry – Panama’s IP registry — trademarks and patents.

• GIJN – Panama Investigative Resources – Global Investigative Journalism Network guides and Panama case studies.

• Financial Secrecy Index – Tax Justice Network – Detailed Panama secrecy score, banking opacity indicators, and comparative data.

• Egmont Group – FIU Network – Global network of financial intelligence units; Panama’s UAF membership and cross-border STR sharing context.

The Griffinfly is a new initiative from UNISHKA and DIGG, providing analysts with timely, accurate insights on Iran and the regional conflict. Access is currently free. Explore it today at www.thegriffinfly.com.