PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panamanian investigators carried documents Thursday out of offices belonging to a Hong Kong-owned company that operated ports at either end of the Panama Canal until its concession was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last month.
Public prosecutor Azael Samaniego, of the anti-corruption office, told local media outlets that visits were made to three offices of the Panama Ports Company in Panama City and that the Panama Maritime Authority and investigators from the National Directorate of Judicial Investigation also participated. The Panama Ports Company is the local subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison.
Samaniego said his office had information pointing to the possible commission of a crime, but he did not specify what the crime could be. He said an investigation was in its early stages.
The Panama Ports Company did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Panamanian law enforcement agencies.
The investigation comes days after the Maritime Authority seized the Balboa and Cristobal ports from the Panama Ports Company. The company has previously rejected the court’s ruling and the Chinese government has accused Panama’s government of bowing to United States pressure.
The ports, which have been operated by the company since 1997, became embroiled in a legal dispute after getting caught in the middle of the U.S. and China’s competition for influence in the region.
The Trump administration objected to the ports being controlled by a Chinese company and accused China of running the canal, something both Panama and China deny.
Containers sit at the Balboa terminal, run by CK Hutchison's Panama Ports Co., after Panama's government ordered the occupation of the port following a Supreme Court ruling that the concession was unconstitutional, in Panama City, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
DENVER (AP) — U.S. Olympian Matt Boldy had two goals and two assists, Filip Gustavsson stopped 44 shots and the Minnesota Wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory.
In Minnesota's first game after the Olympic break, Boldy extended his points streak to seven games, and fellow U.S. teammate Quinn Hughes had his team-leading 53rd assist of the season.
Gustavsson improved to 17-2-4 in his past 23 games.
Joel Eriksson Ek had two power-play goals, giving him six goals in Minnesota’s past seven games and 26 points over his past 24 games. Mats Zuccarello also scored for Minnesota.
Martin Necas scored twice for NHL-leading Colorado, which returned from the break Wednesday night with a victory in Utah. The Avs are 5-6-2 in their past 13 after starting the season 33-4-7.
The Wild are 9-1-1 in their last 11. They are 33-0-8 when allowing three or fewer goals in regulation.
Wild: At Utah on Friday night.
Avalanche: Host Chicago on Saturday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, right, redirects the puck at Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson, left, in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood pulls on his mask during a break in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) looks to score as Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly, left, defends in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton, second from left, puts a shot on Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson, left, after driving past defenseman Daemon Hunt, third form left, and right wing Danila Yurov in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski, left, tumbles to the ice with Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello while pursuing the puck n the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
