On Wednesday, August 7th, Panamanian border police arrested 15 individuals associated with a criminal organization that assists Chinese nationals in crossing into the United States via a lower-risk “VIP route” through the Darien Gap. The cost of this VIP route amounts to thousands of dollars.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the densely forested Darien Gap connects Colombia and Panama and serves as one of the main routes for immigrants to reach the U.S. border. In recent years, Chinese nationals have become the fourth largest nationality group to utilize this transit point.
In 2023, over 500,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap, setting a new historical record. As of this year, more than 212,000 immigrants have already crossed the border. Reports from July indicate that the number of immigrants in recent weeks may have decreased.
The arrest operation took place in the town of Santa Fe near Meteti in the Darien province. The route through the Darien Gap is extremely perilous, with migrants facing dangers such as swift river currents, wild animals, and criminal gangs that rob, rape, and murder those traversing the forest.
However, the “VIP route” utilizes all-terrain vehicles or even horses, expediting the journey that can sometimes last up to a week. For those who can afford it, opting for the “VIP route” presents a faster alternative than the routes used by other migrants.
Local prosecutor Emeldo Marquez stated that Chinese individuals are the main paid migrants using the “VIP route” provided by criminal organizations. Marquez told Agence France-Presse, “This route is called ‘VIP’ because it allows them to advance faster than the routes used by other migrants.”
According to data from the Panamanian government, the number of Chinese immigrants crossing the Darien Gap has surged in recent years, rising from 296 people recorded from 2010 to 2019 to 12,000 people as of 2024.
This route differs from the typical passage through the Darien Gap, which takes longer. Marquez claimed that the “VIP route” costs each person between $2,600 and $8,000, assisting over 700 migrants in crossing Panama.
The conventional route costs approximately $500 per person.
Migrants depart from the Colombian coast in Capurgana or Necocli, traveling by sea to Carreto or Caledonia in Panama. From there, migrants cross the jungle using various means of transportation, including canoes, horse riding, and even all-terrain vehicles, typically completing the journey within two days.
All 15 suspects arrested were Panamanians, but Marquez alleges that they work for Colombian gangs. If convicted, each individual faces 15 to 20 years of imprisonment.
Panama’s National Border Service stated that in the raid on the immigrant smuggling groups, they seized 11 vehicles, 24 cell phones, a rifle, and cash.
For Chinese nationals, obtaining U.S. visas has become increasingly challenging. In 2021, the visa rejection rate for Chinese nationals with B visas exceeded 79%. This number dropped to 30% in 2022, but the visa rejection rate for Chinese citizens steadily increased from 9% in 2014. For those eager to leave, obtaining tourist visas has also become impractical: the waiting time for interviews has extended to over six months. Consequently, more Chinese nationals are entering the U.S. illegally through the southern border. Once in the country, many apply for political asylum, citing concerns over Chinese Communist Party rule and strict “zero-Covid” policies. Additionally, many express doubts about the Chinese economy and fear falling into poverty.
In the first nine months of 2023, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested 22,187 Chinese nationals entering from Mexico, a drastic increase from the same period in 2022 when only a fraction were apprehended.