Above: some of the new patrol boats donated by Italy

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Panama has received four new patrol boats donated to the country under an agreement between the governments of Panama and Italy.

The new boats will start monitoring activity on the country’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts, following an official inauguration ceremony May 31.

The arrival of the four boats, part of a total of six donated to Panama, comes as the country looks to strengthen the presence of security personnel in its fight against drug trafficking.

The patrol boats came from Genoa earlier this month.

They arrived at the Panamanian port of Manzanillo.