In December 2023, a man who protested in the waters in front of the port of Punta Rincón in Panama, where Minera Panamá exports the material they extract, was charged for allegedly committing crimes against collective security and public servants. He was also ordered to report periodically to court every month.

Since the beginning of the protests in October 2023 arising from the Panamanian government renewing the copper exploration concession at the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America held by Minera Panama, a subsidiary of Canada's First Quantum Minerals., at least 30 people have been arrested, and several people have been injured, including journalist and activist Aubrey Baxter who lost an eye due to excessive use of force by the police. On 1 November 2023, Diógenes Sánchez, a member of the Panama Teacher's Association (Asociación de Profesores de Panamá (Asoprof)), was arrested by police following his active participation in the protests. Abdiel Díaz and Iván Rodríguez were shot and killed on 7 November.