No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveSpaniard Allegedly Hid Cocaine in Wine

Spaniard Allegedly Hid Cocaine in Wine

A Spanish woman headed to Madrid was arrested at JuanSantamaríaInternationalAirport in Alajuela, northwest of San José, Saturday accused of carrying plastic bags filled with a solution of wine and cocaine in her luggage, according to a statement released Monday by the Public Security Ministry.

Police observed the woman, identified by the last name García, behaving nervously, and, upon inspecting her luggage, they found several bags of wine. After performing a simple lab test, they discovered that one of the bags contained about 5 kilograms of diluted cocaine and another contained about 4 kilograms of the drug.

This was the first recorded incidence of someone allegedly using wine to traffic drugs from Costa Rica, although there have been many cases of alleged drug traffickers using other liquids, including mayonnaise, whiskey, shampoo and cans of heart of palm, to hide drugs, said Public Security Ministry spokesman Jesús Ureña.

 

Trending Now

Costa Rica Proposes Major Overhaul of Courts and State Oversight

Lawmakers from Costa Rica's governing party filed a package of constitutional reform bills on Tuesday that would end the Comptroller General's power to block...

Costa Rica Under Yellow Alert as Saturated Ground Raises Flood Risk

If you are driving to Limón, Turrialba or the southern Pacific today, expect delays and check the road before you leave. A yellow alert...

Costa Rica’s Pacific Faces Drought as Caribbean Rainfall Soars

Costa Rica ended July with two sharply different weather realities: unusually dry conditions across much of the Pacific and Central Valley, and exceptionally heavy...

Costa Rica Makes Forbes 2026 List of Best Places to Retire

Costa Rica has again been named one of the world's best places for Americans to retire, appearing in the 2026 edition of the Forbes...

CONCACAF Calls for Reckoning With Infantino’s FIFA Leadership

North and Central American football's governing body CONCACAF yesterday called for a "comprehensive reckoning with" Gianni Infantino's leadership of FIFA after his aborted plan...

Costa Rica’s New Vape Rules Were Supposed to Start Today. They Didn’t.

Costa Rica's flavored vape restrictions were scheduled to take effect August 6, 2026. A July decree pushed them to 2027. Here's what actually applies now.

Nicaragua Moves Ahead With Reform to Exclude Opposition

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega warned Friday that he will move forward with a constitutional reform aimed at excluding the opposition from elections, despite objections...

Starbucks Opens 33rd Costa Rica Store as Dunkin Expands

Starbucks has opened its 33rd store in Costa Rica while Dunkin' adds locations in Zapote and Sabana Este, intensifying competition in the country's coffee and doughnut market.

Costa Rica’s President Attends the Basílica Mass for the First Time Since 2023

President Laura Fernández attended Sunday's solemn Mass for the Virgen de los Ángeles in Cartago, the first Costa Rican head of state to take...
Avatar
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel