Panamanian authorities have seized 2.03 tons of cocaine in Chiriqui province, in the west of the country, Panama's Drug Prosecutor Nathaniel Murgas said Monday.

Murgas said the drugs were discovered at a police checkpoint Sunday afternoon in the Guabala municipality. The drugs were on their way to Panama City in a truck.

"When we did the investigation, we found that in the back of the truck there was a compartment covered with special material, with a double bottom, where we found the drugs," Murgas said.

He added that during the police operative, the agents found three guns and detained three people of different nationalities: one Mexican, one Honduran and one Panamanian. However, Murgas said that the investigation would continue as there could be more people involved.

The drugs and three suspects were later taken to Panama City, where the Directorate of Legal Investigation will continue to investigate which drug cartel is responsible.

Colombian and Mexican drug cartels are active in Panama. Occasionally, there is rivalry among the different cartels to control drug trafficking to the United States.

Since February this year, Panamanian authorities have seized more than 87 tons of drugs, surpassing the 54 tons seized in 2009.