Alleged irregularities in new and used vehicle imports from the United States have been the center of a months-long probe by Panama’s  National Customs Authority (ANA).

"As a result of these investigations, a considerable number of merchants and individuals have been linked to this activity, which has led to retaining a large number of vehicles, "said the Authority on Friday, October 5.

The ANA said that, it has taken administrative measures "to safeguard the process and allow research to be conducted with the utmost transparency, respecting and guaranteeing the presumption of innocence, due process and the reservation of the summary. "

Mi Diario, reports that the deputy director of Customs, Vidal del Mar -currently on vacation- is in the eyes of the authorities in the case.

Thursday, one of the authority ’s brokerage offices, located in via Porras,was  raided by personnel from the Customs Prevention and Control Directorate.