The former leader of Panama’s largest drug trafficking organization has been convicted in the United States on a federal narcotics charge for conspiring to smuggle massive quantities of cocaine into the country.
Jorge Rubén Camargo-Clarke, 46, also known as “Cool nene,” was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine for unlawful importation, the Justice Department announced. The verdict followed a four-day trial.
Camargo has been in U.S. federal custody since March 2023, when he was extradited from Costa Rica.
Head of the Bagdad Syndicate
Prosecutors presented evidence showing Camargo led the Bagdad syndicate, described as the largest drug trafficking organization in Panama. From his position at the top of the network, he allegedly directed approximately 4,000 narcotraffickers operating in Panama and Colombia.
The organization controlled cocaine shipments along much of Panama’s Pacific coast. In 2017 alone, Panamanian authorities seized roughly 7.9 tons of cocaine from areas under Camargo’s control.
Evidence at trial showed Camargo used Blackberry Messenger to coordinate with Colombian suppliers and other co-conspirators. He oversaw the movement of thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and other transit points, with the ultimate goal of distribution in the United States.
In November 2017, authorities in Panama seized more than 200 kilograms (441 pounds) of cocaine hidden in an underground stash in the Rio Caimito area. Prosecutors said Camargo had personally ordered the shipment and intended for it to be trafficked into the U.S.
Sentencing Ahead
U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. has scheduled sentencing for June 12. Camargo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life behind bars.
The investigation was led by the DEA’s Southern California Drug Task Force as part of the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, with assistance from U.S. and Panamanian law enforcement agencies.
The prosecution is part of broader federal initiatives, including the Homeland Security Task Force and Operation Take Back America, which target cartels and transnational criminal organizations operating in and beyond U.S. borders.
