No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveCosta Rican police and U.S. DEA shut down gunrunning operation with links...

Costa Rican police and U.S. DEA shut down gunrunning operation with links to Colombia’s FARC

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) smashed an international gun and drug running operation supposedly linked to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the San José neighborhood of Barrio Escalante – just a few kilometers from The Tico Times office – on Thursday night, according to OIJ Director Francisco Segura. 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration alerted authorities two months ago that criminals had been ferrying heavy arms through Costa Rica, including AR-15 rifles. An OIJ agent successfully infiltrated the criminal organization, leading to the arrests.

Authorities confiscated 27 rifles, seven pistols, one revolver and a silencer. OIJ agents also seized 492 kilograms of cocaine during one of the raids that took place in capital neighborhood of Sabana Sur, Curridabat, and Barrio Escalante Thursday evening.

Five Colombians and a Nicaraguan, who have been in Costa Rica legally for between eight months and four years, were arrested. 

Segura said an alleged connection existed with the FARC, an armed leftist guerrilla organization in Colombia that has alleged ties with drug trafficking, but would not elaborate. The U.S. government considers FARC a terrorist organization. 

The guns originated in Germany and arrived in Costa Rica, where the suspects filed off the weapons’ serial numbers and possibly made other modifications, including alternations to make them automatic weapons, before sending them on to Mexico, according to Segura. 

The Chiribogo gun store in Barrio Escalante, where the gunrunners operated, had legal permission to sell weapons.

“Let’s not kid ourselves, these weapons are here for illicit reasons,” Segura told reporters during a press conference on Friday.

Acting Costa Rican Attorney General Carlos María Jiménez said the suspects could face up to 20 years in prison if charged and found guilty.

Segura added that the DEA did not have a police presence in the raids and only participated in intelligence-sharing.

OIJ said the investigation is ongoing. 

Correction Nov. 1, 2:22 p.m.: This report originally misspelled the name of the gun store as “Chiripago.”

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Piangua Mollusk Threatened by Pineapple Farm Runoff

Costa Rica’s Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland, a 33,000-hectare haven of mangroves and rivers, is under siege from an unlikely source: pineapple farms. A study by...

Costa Rica Green Hotels Lead Global Sustainable Tourism

Costa Rica’s reputation as a leader in sustainable tourism grows stronger every year, with our green hotels setting a high bar for eco-conscious hospitality...

Costa Rica Hunts for Nicaraguan Hit Squad After Exile’s Assassination

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) is investigating whether a hit squad tied to Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime is targeting exiled critics on its soil....

Climate Change in Costa Rica Devastates Coffee Farms in Los Santos

In Costa Rica’s Los Santos region, famous for producing nearly half the country’s coffee, farmers are reeling from heavy losses driven by wild weather....

Costa Rica’s Top Court Bans President Chaves from 2026 Election Campaign

Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Thursday barred President Rodrigo Chaves from participating in the 2026 election campaign, ruling that he "illegitimately used" his...

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica