Costa Rican police seize 15 tons of cocaine in 2013

Costa Rican authorities have seized 15 tons of cocaine during the first nine months of 2013, averaging more than a ton per month, according to a statement from the National Police on Friday. More than 40 tons of cocaine have been seized during the administration of President Laura Chinchilla. 

Public Security Minister Mario Zamora attributed the haul to improvements in equipment, technology and training by the Costa Rican Coast Guard, National Police, and the Drug Control Police (PCD).

During the same period, authorities also confiscated 2.6 tons of loose marijuana, more than 70,000 crack rocks and 11,209 Ecstasy pills. 

The drug seizure inventory comes on the heels of another report by the National Police that 80 percent of arrests in Costa Rica are related to drug trafficking, according to the daily La Nación.

The PCD has smashed 447 criminal drug operations, including 62 international, 375 local, and even 105 mom-and-pop operations, since 2010.