Arrested former goalkeeper of the Panama national team
Luis Mejia, who played in the 2018 World Cup, was arrested in Panama on drug trafficking charges.
The arrest was the result of a joint operation between the Panamanian National Police and the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Mejia was arrested at his home in Panama City on Tuesday, July 26. Police seized drugs, cash, and weapons from the home. Mejia was charged with drug trafficking and money laundering.
Mejia played for the Panama national team from 2010 to 2018. He was part of the team that qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Mejia played in all three of Panama's games at the World Cup.
The arrest of Mejia is a major blow to the Panama national team. Mejia was one of the team's most experienced players and was expected to play a key role in the team's qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup.
The arrest of Mejia also raises questions about the involvement of other Panamanian soccer players in drug trafficking. In 2017, former Panamanian national team player Roman Torres was arrested in the United States on drug trafficking charges. Torres was later convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.
The arrests of Mejia and Torres are a reminder of the serious problem of drug trafficking in Panama. Panama is a major transit country for drugs being smuggled from South America to the United States. The country has been plagued by drug-related violence in recent years.
The arrest of Mejia is a major setback for the Panama national team and raises questions about the involvement of other Panamanian soccer players in drug trafficking.
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