Costa Rica airport to increase security

The Public Security Ministry announced Monday that it plans to increase security at Juan Santamaría International Airport, Costa Rica´s biggest airport, located northwest of the capital in Alajuela.

In addition to adding 61 recently-graduated police officers, the ministry will deploy several undercover agents to the airport, although officials did not say how many.

The new protection, the ministry said, is to maintain the green star that the airport received from the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The ministry claims they earned the rating for Juan Santamaría´s safe security practices such as x-ray scanners and strict customs personnel.

In the past three weeks, officials have confiscated nine marijuana joints, two marijuana roaches and a 9-mm pistol with 15 bullets, according to the Public Security Officials. Airport officials have also inspected 382 vehicles and detained eight. The Transit Police have issued 96 citations in since Nov. 9 at Juan Santamaría.