On 15 June 2025, Panamanian authorities arrested Francisco Smith, secretary general of the banana workers’ union SITRAIBANA, and fellow union leader Gilberto Guerra, just days after they signed an agreement with the government to end a six-week strike against Chiquita Brands in Bocas del Toro. Smith and Guerra are accused of orchestrating road blockades and face charges including crimes against public safety, damaging transportation infrastructure, and criminal conspiracy. The strike, which began on April 28, targeted pension reforms under Law 462 that workers argued would cut their benefits, and it severely disrupted Chiquita’s operations. The arrests, viewed by unions and international labour organisations as retaliation and a violation of freedom of association, have intensified tensions in the region and drawn condemnation from labor rights groups demanding their immediate release.