National Border Service

Last updated
National Border Service
Servicio Nacional de Fronteras de la República de Panamá
XVuLDVd.png
SENAFRONT emblem
AbbreviationSENAFRONT
MottoDios Y Patria
God and Country
Agency overview
FormedAugust 8, 2008
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction Panama
Constituting instrument
  • Decree Law No. 8, 2008 [1]
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
  • National border patrol, security, and integrity.
Operational structure
Overviewed by Ministry 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 agency Panamanian Public Forces
Notables
Anniversary
  • August 8
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]

Contents

Created in 2008, it is the border guard branch of the Panamanian Public Forces.

Background

In case of emergency or a 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 land territories of Panama with attachment and loyalty to constitutional and legal order established in the country.

The Service was established in 2008, with Frank Abrego as its first Director General on the basis of the Border Police Directorate of the National Police. [4] [5]

Structure

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

At its foundation it had one brigade, the 1st (Southeastern) Border Brigade organized into the following:

The 2nd Border Brigade, raised in 2008, is responsible for the Caribbean coast segments of the border and is organized into and HQ and 4 subordinate battalions:

The then Western Battalion provided border security on the Costa Rica border, in 2017 it was transformed into the basis of the 4th Border Brigade and split into two battalions in 2020. The 4th Brigade is organized into a HQ and the following:

In 2020 the 3rd East Panama Brigade was raised to support law enforcement and border operations in Panama Province and Madungandí Township. Its ORBAT is organized as:

The 5th Special Forces Brigade is made up of a Special Forces Battalion, Special Boat Unit and a Motorized Infantry Battalion. The Special Forces battalion is organized into a headquarters and 3 companies as follows:

The brigade also handles K-9 and SAR operations.

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 groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officersOfficer cadet
Flag of Panama.svg National Border Service [6]
Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Director GeneralSubdirector GeneralComisionadoSubcomisionadoMayorCapitánTenienteSubteniente
Other ranks
Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Flag of Panama.svg National Border Service [6]
Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg No insignia
Sargento primeroSargento segundoCabo primeroCabo segundoAgente

Equipment

Small arms

NameOriginPhotoType
Glock 17 Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Glock 17 (6825676904) bez fona.jpg 9×19mm Semiautomatic pistol
CZ Scorpion Evo 3 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic CZ Scorpion Evo 3.jpg 9×19mm submachine gun
Colt M16 Assault Rifle [7] Flag of the United States.svg United States M16A2 noBG.jpg Assault rifle
Colt M4 carbine [8] Flag of the United States.svg United States Coltm4a1.jpeg Carbine
IMI Galil ACE Flag of Israel.svg  Israel/Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia IWI ACE 21.jpg Carbine
T65 Assault Rifle [9] Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan TwT65.JPG Assault rifle
AKMS Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union AKM automatkarbin, Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armemuseum.jpg Assault rifle
AMD-65 Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary AMD-65.jpg Carbine
AK-103 Flag of Russia.svg Russia Izhevsk AK-103.jpg Assault rifle
SVD Dragunov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union SVD Dragunov.jpg Semiautomatic sniper rifle
M40A5 rifle Flag of the United States.svg United States USMC-M40A5-pic001.jpg Bolt-action sniper rifle
Barrett M82 Flag of the United States.svg United States 191003-Z-XK920-1044 - M107 .50 Caliber Sniper Rifle (Image 2 of 14).jpg Semiautomatic sniper rifle
FN Minimi Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium FN MINIMI Standard Right.jpg Light machine gun
M60 machine gun Flag of the United States.svg United States M60 machine gun DF-SD-02-01164 c1.jpg General Purpose Machine Gun
FN MAG [10] Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium FN MAG tripode.JPG General Purpose Machine Gun
PK machine gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union 7,62 KK PKM Helsinki 2012.JPG General Purpose Machine Gun
Browning M1919A4 Flag of the United States.svg United States Browning M1919a.png General Purpose Machine Gun
M2HB Browning Flag of the United States.svg United States M2 Browning, Musee de l'Armee.jpg Heavy Machine Gun
M203 grenade launcher Flag of the United States.svg United States Loading M203 40 mm grenade launcher attached to an M16 rifle.jpg 40mm grenade launcher
RPG-7 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union RPG-7V1 at Tank Biathlon 2014.jpg rocket-propelled Grenade
RPG-18 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union RPG-18-cutaway.JPG rocket-propelled Grenade

Artillery

NameOriginCaliberPhotos
M30 Mortar Flag of the United States.svg United States107mm 4.2-inch Mortar, RRCAS, CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick.JPG
Soltam 60mm mortar Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 60mm Mortar-60mm-latrun-exhibition-1-1.jpg
M19 mortar Flag of the United States.svg United States60mm 60mm Mortar display.jpg

Vehicles

NameOriginTypePhotos
Humvee Flag of the United States.svg United Stateslight utility vehicle High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (7859195840).jpg
Jeep J8 Flag of the United States.svg United StatesGunship BPV -Border Patrol Vehicle More Than 100 approximately vehicle actually [11] Vehiculos del Servicio Nacional de Fronteras Jeep J8-389RJ7G.jpg

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References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 Donadio 2013, p. 148.
  3. 1 2 "Nosotros". senafront.gob.pa. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  4. "Frank Ábrego, el zar de Darién". La Prensa. Feb 8, 2015. Retrieved Oct 20, 2019.
  5. Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Varela designa a Cristian Enrique Hayer nuevo director de Senafront". La Estrella de Panamá. Retrieved Oct 20, 2019.
  6. 1 2 "REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ MINISTERIO DE GOBIERNO Y JUSTICIA DECRETO EJECUTIVO Nº 103" (PDF).
  7. Special forces recognition guide. Collins. 2005. p. 446. ISBN   9780007183296.
  8. "The Gun Zone -- A 5.56 X 45mm "Timeline" 2008". 4 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-01-04. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  9. Panama 1989-90. Osprey. ISBN   1855321564.
  10. Jane's infantry weapons, 1995-96 (21st ed.). Jane's Information Group. May 1995. ISBN   978-0-7106-1241-0.
  11. "Jeep J8". defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2019.