Panama Extradition to the US

Does Panama Have Extradition With the US?

Yes. Panama and the United States have an active extradition treaty — the Treaty for the Extradition of Criminals, signed in Panama City on May 25, 1904, and still in force today. Under this agreement, Panama regularly surrenders fugitives — including foreign nationals — to face charges in US federal courts, and Panamanian courts do not treat the country as a “safe haven” jurisdiction.

If you or a family member has been notified of a US extradition request, an Interpol Red Notice lawyer should be consulted immediately, since many US extradition requests to Panama begin with an Interpol Red Notice or provisional arrest warrant before formal extradition papers are filed.

Panama Extradition Laws: Key Facts

Panama’s extradition framework rests on a combination of the bilateral treaty, Panama’s Code of Criminal Procedure, and constitutional limits. The table below summarizes the core rules.

Case Example: The Reza Dindar Panama Extradition

A recent, well-documented example of how the treaty operates in practice is the case of Reza Dindar (also referenced as Renda Dindar), an Iranian national. Dindar was indicted by a US federal grand jury in Seattle in 2014 on nine counts tied to an alleged scheme to evade US export controls and sanctions on Iran, including conspiracy, unlawful export to an embargoed country, smuggling, money laundering, and filing false export records. He was arrested in Panama in July 2025 at the request of US authorities and was formally handed over — extradited from Panama to the United States — in April 2026 to face trial in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington.

The Reza Dindar Panama extradition case illustrates several points that matter for anyone facing a similar situation:

• Age of the case is not a barrier. The underlying indictment was more than a decade old before the arrest occurred.
• Third-country conduct still counts. The alleged scheme routed goods through China, but the extradition request came from the US on the basis of the sanctions-evasion conduct.
• Interagency cooperation is standard. The US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Panamanian authorities coordinated the arrest and hand-over.
• Panama moved relatively quickly once located. From arrest to physical surrender took roughly nine months.

What Is the Step-by-Step Extradition Process in Panama?

The extradition process in Panama is a structured judicial and administrative affair. It’s not an arbitrary decision but a legal review with clear timelines and distinct roles for the government’s executive and judicial branches.

Step 1: The Request and Provisional Arrest Often, the process kicks off before a formal extradition package even arrives. A requesting country can issue an urgent alert, like an INTERPOL Red Notice, and ask Panama for a provisional arrest. If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs validates the notice, it asks the judiciary to issue an arrest warrant. Once the person is in custody, a clock starts ticking. The requesting country usually has 60 days to submit its complete, formal extradition request through diplomatic channels. Missing this deadline can result in the person’s release.

Step 2: Judicial Review by the Supreme Court The formal request lands in the lap of the Supreme Court’s Second Chamber for Criminal Matters. This is the heart of the legal battle. Here, the court meticulously checks if the request meets all requirements of Panamanian law and the relevant treaty. It confirms dual criminality, verifies the offense isn’t political, and ensures the statute of limitations hasn’t expired in either country.

Step 3: The Extradition Hearing The detained person is brought before the court, told their rights, and given a chance to fight the extradition. This is not a trial to determine guilt or innocence. Its sole purpose is to decide the legal validity of the extradition request itself, as laid out in Article 535 of Panama’s Criminal Procedure Code. The defense can argue that the request is legally flawed or violates the person’s fundamental rights.

Step 4: Final Decision and Surrender If the Supreme Court finds all legal requirements are satisfied, it issues a decision approving the extradition. That decision goes back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—part of the executive branch—which then issues the final order of surrender. Agents from the requesting state then arrive to take custody and transport the individual for trial or imprisonment.

What are Common Grounds for Refusing an Extradition Request?

Panama’s legal system provides several powerful defenses against an extradition request, all rooted in its constitution, laws, and international principles designed to safeguard individual rights.

• No Extradition of Nationals: As enshrined in its Constitution, Panama does not extradite its own citizens. This is an absolute, non-negotiable barrier. If the person is a Panamanian national, the request will be denied.
• Political Offenses: A request will be refused if the crime is deemed political in nature. This exception prevents the extradition process from being weaponized against political opponents. It also applies if there’s good reason to believe a request for a regular crime is just a pretext to prosecute someone for their political views.
• Risk of Unfair Treatment: The Supreme Court can block extradition if there are substantial grounds to believe the person will be persecuted for their race, religion, or nationality. The request will also be stopped if there is a real danger the person will face torture, cruel treatment, or be denied a fair trial with basic due process in the requesting country.
• Double Jeopardy (Ne Bis in Idem): Extradition is barred if the individual has already been tried for the same criminal acts in Panama—and was either acquitted or convicted and served their sentence. This fundamental principle ensures no one is prosecuted twice for the same offense.

Does Panama extradite to the UK?

Yes, Panama can extradite people to the United Kingdom. The legal foundation for this is the Extradition Treaty between the United Kingdom and Panama, signed in 1906. Just like with any other country, a request from the UK must follow the established protocol: submission via diplomatic channels, proof of dual criminality, and judicial sign-off from Panama’s Supreme Court.

This article is published by an independent law firm for informational purposes only and does not represent or claim affiliation with any government body, international organization, or official authority.

Frequently Asked Questions About Panama Extradition

Can you get extradited from Panama?

Yes. Extradition from Panama is possible. The process is formally guided by both its international treaty obligations and its domestic laws, specifically the Criminal Procedure Code (Law 63 of 2008). However, any request is subjected to rigorous judicial review by Panama’s Supreme Court. If the strict legal requirements are not met, the request will be denied. One hard rule stands out: Panama does not extradite its own nationals. This is a constitutional protection, which means if you obtain Panamanian citizenship *before* an extradition request is formally made, you cannot be sent abroad to face charges.

What countries will the US not extradite you to?

The United States lacks extradition treaties with every country, a fact that seriously complicates the return of fugitives. Key nations without a US extradition treaty include China, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and the United Arab Emirates. While a country can still surrender a person through diplomatic channels on a case-by-case basis, the process is far more difficult without a formal treaty. It becomes a matter of political negotiation rather than legal obligation, making it highly uncertain.

Why is Panama a high risk country?

When you hear Panama labeled “high-risk,” it’s almost always in a financial context. This designation usually comes from international bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). It is not a comment on the country’s judicial integrity or rule of law. Instead, the label reflects concerns about financial transparency and the strictness of its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) enforcement, stemming from its role as a global financial hub and past difficulties in curbing illicit money flows.

Which countries can you be extradited from?

Extradition is a reality in the vast majority of countries. Most nations participate in a global network of bilateral and multilateral extradition agreements. Within the European Union, for example, the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) system dramatically streamlines the process of surrendering individuals between member states. Ultimately, the decisive factor is whether the country where a person is found has a legal framework—either a treaty or a domestic law—authorizing their surrender to another nation.