National Border Service
The Border Service(SENAFRONT) is a specialized and permanent police force, structured and organized to protect Panama's land borders and protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity and to protect life, honor, property and other rights and freedoms of individuals under the jurisdiction of the state, maintain public order, prevent, suppress and investigate the crimes and misdemeanors committed within their jurisdictions.
In case of emergency or an foreign attack on Panama, SENAFRONT is the principal entity of the security forces trained to plan, organize, direct and execute all actions that ensure the security of the territory and population within the sovereign jurisdiction of the territory Panamanian with attachment and loyalty to constitutional and legal order established in the country. Currently it has about 4,000 troops and rising.
It is currently deployed operationally in 7 combat battalions and one logistic battalion. On the border with the Republic of Colombia, the Eastern Brigade composed of: Caribbean Battalion, Central Battalion, Pacific Battalion, Fluvial Battalion, Battalion General José De Fabregas and Support and Service Battalion.
The border with the Republic of Costa Rica is the responsibility of the Western Battalion.
Has a Group of Special Forces which is organized by a Special Forces Battalion and deployed in 3 companies as follows:
- Reconnaissance Company and Combat Anti-Narcotics (RECOM).
- Jungle Operations Company.
- Company Cobra Assault and Infiltration.
Its agents are often trained by the United States Army as there are daily clashes with FARC guerrillas on the border with Colombia.
Materials
Equipment
- Glock 17 Semiautomatic
- FAMAE SAF 9×19mm Submachine, Chile
- HK MP5 submachine gun 9×19mm, Germany
- Colt M16 Assault Rifle . 5.56×45mm, U.S.A.
- Colt M4 and M4A1 Carbine 5.56×45mm, U.S.A.
- T65 Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm, Republic of China
- AKMS 7.62×39mm Assault Rifle, Russia
- AMD-65 Assault rifle 7.62×39mm, Hungary
- FN FAL rifle Battle 7.62×51mm, Belgium
- SVD Sniper Rifle 7.62×54mm, Russia
- RPK Light Machine Gun 7.62×39mm, Russia
- FN MAG machine gun 7.62×51mm, Belgium
- Saco M60 General Purpose Machine Gun 7.62×51mm, U.S.A.
- PKM General Purpose Machine Gun 7.62×54mm, Russian
- Browning M1919A4 machine gun Media 7.62×51mm, U.S.A.
- Heavy Machine Gun Browning M2HB / Stationary 12.7×99mm, U.S.A.
- Colt M203 40mm grenade launcher, U.S.A.
- RPG-18 rocket-propelled Granada, Russia
- RPG-7 rocket-propelled Granada, Russia
Artillery
- M30 107mm Mortar, U.S.A.
- Soltam 60mm Mortar, Israel
- M19 60mm mortar, U.S.A.
Vehicles
- Cadillac Gage Commando ARV/APC -Light Armored Vehicle-
- LAV-300 -Light Armored Vehicle-
- Humvee (HMMWV) -High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle-
- Jeep J8 Gunship BPV -Border Patrol Vehicle-