After an intense manhunt by land sea and air the  19-year-old alleged killer of police Sergeant Rigoberto Valdés was captured hiding in the mangroves of Panama  Viejo on Monday, November 14.

Valdes was assigned to the National Directorate of Police Intelligence and had more than 12 years of service. He was taking part in a drug raid in the Panamá Viejo sector, Parque Lefevre corregimiento with members of the Drug Prosecutor’s Office when they were met with a hail of fire, and Rigoberto Valdés and another officer were hit. Valdés died in the emergency room of the San Miguel Arcángel hospital. His partner Daniel Salinas was wounded in the right thigh and left arm, and is in stable condition.

The National Police are still operating today in Panama Viejo in search of people with pending arms and drug cases.