El Panamá: The Untold Story of a Madrid Outlaw

The world of crime has always held a certain morbid fascination, a dark spectacle in the grand circus of life. This allure is perfectly captured in the story of José Manuel Cifuentes, a man whose name became synonymous with the turbulent streets of Madrid during its most violent decades.

Known to all as El Panamá, Cifuentes was more than just a criminal; he was a legend forged in the crucible of the 1980s and 1990s. His life story, now meticulously documented by writer Iñaki Domínguez, offers a raw, unflinching look into an underworld of chaos, loyalty, and relentless conflict.

The book, titled 'El Panamá. Vida de un fuera de la ley', peels back the layers of myth to reveal the man who wore his reputation like a crown—sometimes a symbol of power, other times a crushing weight.

Every legend has an origin, and the story of El Panamá begins in the working-class neighborhoods of Madrid. Born in 1968, Cifuentes grew up in the barrio de San Blas, an area that would shape his worldview and his future.

His nickname, which would eventually eclipse his given name, was not born of a grand criminal exploit but of a simple childhood detail: his time at the Colegio Público República de Panamá. This connection to a simple school name stands in stark contrast to the complex and dangerous life he would later lead.

The environment of the Spanish capital during this period was a volatile mix of social change and economic uncertainty, creating a perfect breeding ground for a life outside the law. It was here that the boy from San Blas would begin his transformation into a figure of underworld folklore.

The life of El Panamá was defined by a dizzying array of alliances and rivalries. He was not a man tied to a single crew but moved fluidly through a fractured landscape of criminal subcultures, forming bonds that were as intense as they were often temporary.

His associations were a cross-section of Spain's most notorious groups of the era. He was an intimate friend—and at times, a formidable enemy—to a diverse collection of individuals, including:

• Successive bands of delinquent rockers
• Radical pelaos nazis (neo-Nazis)
• Hardened yonquis (junkies)
• Political falangistas
• Violent punkis
• Extremist pijos de extrema derecha (wealthy right-wing extremists)

Despite their ideological differences, these groups often found common ground in the lucrative business of the compra, venta y tráfico de droga (buying, selling, and trafficking of drugs), a world where El Panamá was a key player.

While his actions cemented his status in the criminal underworld, the book delves into the psychological toll of a life lived under the constant glare of a self-made legend. Cifuentes was a man who actively cultivated his own mythos, understanding the power that reputation held on the streets.

Domínguez's work suggests that this myth was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it was a crown, a source of power and fear that protected him and elevated his status. On the other, it was a weight, a heavy burden that isolated him and defined his every move.

El Panamá is a man who carries his own myth like a crown and, perhaps, at times, in solitude, like a dead weight.

This exploration of the man behind the legend provides a nuanced perspective, moving beyond the simple glorification of crime to examine the profound loneliness and pressure that can accompany a life of notoriety.

'El Panamá. Vida de un fuera de la ley' is more than a biography of one man; it is a historical document capturing a specific, violent period in Spain's recent past. The 1980s and 1990s were marked by social upheaval and a rise in organized crime, and the story of Cifuentes serves as a lens through which to view this turbulent time.

The book, published by Ariel in 2026, spans 368 pages and is priced at 19,90 euros. It promises to be an essential resource for those interested in the true stories that shaped the modern Spanish criminal landscape.

By recovering the history of figures like Cifuentes, the narrative preserves the memory of an era that has largely been relegated to rumor and urban legend, offering a definitive account of a life lived completely outside the law.

The story of José Manuel Cifuentes, as told by Iñaki Domínguez, is a powerful testament to the complex reality behind the romanticized image of the outlaw. It is a tale of a man who navigated a world of extreme violence and shifting allegiances, all while building a legend that would outlast his own actions.

Ultimately, the book reveals that a life of crime is not a simple path of glory but a complicated journey with profound personal costs. The legacy of El Panamá is a reminder that behind every myth, there is a human story, complete with its own triumphs, tragedies, and the heavy burden of a reputation that can never be escaped.