Institutions in Panama are taking joint action to prevent crimes associated with informal “drop by drop” loans: extortion, threats, and assaults

An informal loan may address a need or a desire for cash: to handle an emergency, sustain a small business, or purchase an asset. The risk increases when these schemes are exploited by criminal groups and collection methods involve threats, assaults, extortion, exploitation, or other crimes.

On October 7, 2026, Panama’s Ministry of Public Security’s National Integrated Criminal Statistics System (SIEC), led by Aracelis de Casanova, convened a technical roundtable with institutions from various sectors to share information and experiences regarding informal “drop by drop” loans and to advance the identification and prioritization of joint actions.

The discussion revealed distinct patterns and dynamics across the region. In Panama, the SIEC noted that informal vendors, microentrepreneurs, and others who rely on immediate credit mechanisms are particularly affected. It also highlighted the involvement of individuals of other nationalities who are temporarily residing in the country and who, in some cases, are associated with organized crime structures.

Under the coordination of the UNODC Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean in Panama, Adriana Oropeza, Coordinator of the UNODC–INEGI Center of Excellence, presented the results of the study conducted in Costa Rica with support from the SDG Fund and the Center of Excellence. The study also demonstrated an innovative use of data from the 9-1-1 Emergency System: leveraging an existing administrative data source to generate, at marginal cost, information with high temporal and spatial resolution on incidents related to the phenomenon, including fights, the use of weapons, and suicidal behavior.

The study also revealed a heterogeneous profile. The phenomenon is not limited to people with lower incomes or those without access to the financial system: it also includes professionals facing a health emergency at home, vehicle repairs, or the economic consequences of the pandemic; young people who use these loans to purchase aspirational goods, such as cell phones or athletic shoes; and small businesses that require liquidity to finance the purchase of supplies.

On behalf of the UNODC Office for the Andean Region and the Southern Cone in Colombia, Jaime Palma, from the Regional Analysis Group against Extortion within the Justice and Violence Prevention Division, presented the evolution of the informal lending phenomenon in the context of the international extortion crisis currently affecting those countries.

Drawing on Colombia’s experience, the presentation highlighted the development of the Territorial Management Guide for a Comprehensive Approach to Priority Crimes, which incorporates situational analysis, stakeholder mapping, and strategies adaptable to different contexts. This Guide includes six advanced search tools that facilitate evidence-based decision-making to prevent and control extortion crimes.

In addition, other products currently under development by the Group were presented, such as a dashboard that allows for the comparison of dynamics and reporting rates, and a storymap that documents regional expansion, government responses, and the diversification of extortion modus operandi.

Costa Rica’s experience involves a combination of prevention and response measures: financial education, financing programs targeting populations in need of credit alternatives, prevention campaigns tailored by population and channel, and integrated investigations that coordinate judicial, financial, and administrative information.

The technical roundtable thus helps to better characterize the phenomenon, coordinate information across institutions, and guide the identification of priority actions. The integration of evidence, institutional capacities, and regional experiences provides a foundation for improving prevention, investigation, and the protection of individuals against the various practices associated with informal “drop by drop” loans.