National Border Service

The National Border Service, also called SENAFRONT (abbreviation for Spanish: Servicio Nacional de Fronteras) is a police force specialized in the land border area and branch of the Panamanian Public Forces. Its mission is to protect Panama's land borders and protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity and protect rights and freedoms of people, maintain public order, prevent and investigate crimes within their jurisdictions.[1]

National Border Service
Servicio Nacional de Fronteras de la República de Panamá
SENAFRONT emblem
AbbreviationSENAFRONT
MottoDios Y Patria
God and Country
Agency overview
FormedAugust 8, 2008
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionPanama
Constituting instrument
  • Decree Law No. 8, 2008[1]
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
  • National border patrol, security, and integrity.
Operational structure
Overviewed byMinistry of Public Security
Sworn members3,624 officers (2013)[2]
Unsworn members123 personnel (2013)[2]
Elected officer responsible
  • Juan Manuel Pino Forero, Minister of Public Security
Agency executives
  • Oriel Ortega Benitez[3], Director General
  • Roger E. Mojica R.[3], Deputy Director General
Parent agencyPanamanian Public Forces
Website
www.senafront.gob.pa

Background

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.

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.

Structure

The SENAFRONT is headed by a Director General, which is appointed by President of Panama with recommendation of Minister of Government and Justice per article 14 of Decree Law No. 8 of August 20, 2008.

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.

Equipment

Small arms
NameOriginPhotoType
Glock 17 Austria9x19mm Semiautomatic pistol
CZ Scorpion Evo 3 Czech Republic9x19mm submachine gun
Colt M16 Assault Rifle[4] United StatesAssault rifle
Colt M4 carbine[5] United StatesCarbine
IMI Galil ACE Israel/ ColombiaCarbine
T65 Assault Rifle[6] TaiwanAssault rifle
AKMS Soviet UnionAssault rifle
AMD-65 HungaryCarbine
AK-103 RussiaAssault rifle
SVD Dragunov Soviet UnionSemiautomatic sniper rifle
M40A5 rifle United StatesBolt-action sniper rifle
Barrett M82 United StatesSemiautomatic sniper rifle
FN Minimi BelgiumLight machine gun
M60 machine gun United StatesGeneral Purpose Machine Gun
FN MAG[7] BelgiumGeneral Purpose Machine Gun
PK machine gun Soviet UnionGeneral Purpose Machine Gun
Browning M1919A4 United StatesGeneral Purpose Machine Gun
M2HB Browning United StatesHeavy Machine Gun
M203 grenade launcher United States40mm grenade launcher
RPG-7 Soviet Unionrocket-propelled Grenade
RPG-18 Soviet Unionrocket-propelled Grenade

Artillery
NameOriginCaliberPhotos
M30 Mortar United States107mm
Soltam 60mm mortar Israel60mm
M19 mortar United States60mm

Vehicles
NameOriginTypePhotos
Humvee United Stateslight utility vehicle
Jeep J8 United StatesGunship BPV -Border Patrol Vehicle 30 vehicle actually[8]
gollark: You can get cameras without the IR-blocking filters for some things, or stuff with that Sony StarVis sensor for low-light operation.
gollark: Well, it's sometimes night.
gollark: They have cameras (although not IR-seeing ones), networking (wirelessly, which is kind of bad, but whatever), and technically usable software.
gollark: Well, if you want really low-budget, get some old phones!
gollark: Also, I assume you want multiple cameras.

References
  1. "Decreto Ley No. 8 - Que crea el Servicio Nacional de Fronteras de la República de Panamá". Act No. 8 of 20 August 2008 (PDF) (in Spanish). República de Panamá Órgano Ejecutivo.
  2. Donadio 2013, p. 148.
  3. "Nosotros". senafront.gob.pa. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  4. Special forces recognition guide. Collins. p. 446. ISBN 9780007183296.
  5. "The Gun Zone -- A 5.56 X 45mm "Timeline" 2008". web.archive.org. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  6. Panama 1989-90. Osprey. ISBN 1855321564.
  7. Jane's infantry weapons, 1995-96 (21st ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-1241-0.
  8. "Jeep J8". defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2019.
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