Panama gets thumbs down over drugs

A United States customs report has sharply criticised Panama for failing to tackle drug-trafficking following the US handover of the Panama canal last December.

The report, which was discussed by members of the US congress on Friday, said drug seizures in Panama had dropped by eighty percent last year.

It also said widespread corruption within Panama's police force was undermining the fight against illegal drugs.

Members of the subcommittee on criminal justice and drug policy of the House of Representatives blamed the Clinton administration for the problems and said not enough safeguards had been put in place when the US military withdrew from its bases in Panama.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service