National Border Service

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National Border Service Servicio Nacional de Fronteras de la República de Panamá
SENAFRONT emblem
Abbreviation	SENAFRONT
Motto	Dios Y Patria God and Country
Agency overview
Formed	August 8, 2008
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Panama
Constituting instrument	Decree Law No. 8, 2008[1]
General nature	Civilian police
Specialist jurisdiction	National border patrol, security, and integrity.
Operational structure
Overviewed by	Ministry of Public Security
Sworn members	3,624 officers (2013)[2]
Unsworn members	123 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 agency	Panamanian Public Forces
Website
www.senafront.gob.pa

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]

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.

The Service was established in 2008, with Frank Abrego as Director General.^[4][5]

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.

Ranks[]

Commissioned officer ranks

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
National Border Service[6] v
							Director General		Subdirector General		Comisionado		Subcomisionado		Mayor		Capitán		Teniente			Subteniente

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
National Border Service[6] v																																			No insignia
									Sargento primero								Sargento segundo						Cabo primero				Cabo segundo								Agente

Equipment[]

Small arms[]

Name	Origin	Photo	Type
Glock 17	Austria		9×19mm Semiautomatic pistol
CZ Scorpion Evo 3	Czech Republic		9×19mm submachine gun
Colt M16 Assault Rifle[7]	United States		Assault rifle
Colt M4 carbine[8]	United States		Carbine
IMI Galil ACE	Israel/ Colombia		Carbine
T65 Assault Rifle[9]	Taiwan		Assault rifle
AKMS	Soviet Union		Assault rifle
AMD-65	Hungary		Carbine
AK-103	Russia		Assault rifle
SVD Dragunov	Soviet Union		Semiautomatic sniper rifle
M40A5 rifle	United States		Bolt-action sniper rifle
Barrett M82	United States		Semiautomatic sniper rifle
FN Minimi	Belgium		Light machine gun
M60 machine gun	United States		General Purpose Machine Gun
FN MAG[10]	Belgium		General Purpose Machine Gun
PK machine gun	Soviet Union		General Purpose Machine Gun
Browning M1919A4	United States		General Purpose Machine Gun
M2HB Browning	United States		Heavy Machine Gun
M203 grenade launcher	United States		40mm grenade launcher
RPG-7	Soviet Union		rocket-propelled Grenade
RPG-18	Soviet Union		rocket-propelled Grenade

Artillery[]

Name	Origin	Caliber	Photos
M30 Mortar	United States	107mm
	Israel	60mm
M19 mortar	United States	60mm

Vehicles[]

Name	Origin	Type	Photos
Humvee	United States	light utility vehicle
Jeep J8	United States	Gunship BPV -Border Patrol Vehicle 30 vehicle actually[11]

External links[]

• The official website of SENAFRONT(spanish)

References[]

• Donadio, Marcela (2013). Public security index : Central America : Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama (PDF). Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires: es:Red de Seguridad y Defensa de América Latina. ISBN 978-987-28638-6-9.