No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveCosta Rican cops conduct 12 morning raids to dismantle drug trafficking ring...

Costa Rican cops conduct 12 morning raids to dismantle drug trafficking ring near Caribbean coast

The Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) on Thursday morning conducted a total of 12 raids and made six arrests as part of an operation to dismantle a suspected drug trafficking organization in Siquirres and Guácimo, near the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Police found two new helipads in the mountainous area of Siquirres in addition to four helipads previously discovered in the area and close to the northern border with Nicaragua.

On Thursday, police raided two homes where officers found $35,000 in cash, in an operation that involved 240 police officers, two helicopters, and eight high-speed boats.

In Siquirres, close to Tortuguero National Park, the farms allegedly were used as fuel stations for drug trafficking boats arriving in Costa Rican waters, police said. According to the investigation, the helipads were used to transport cocaine shipments to the north.

“We broke the links of this organization with Costa Rica because we found their fuel stations, and now it will be harder for them to land in our territory,” said OIJ Assistant Director Gustavo Mata at a press conference. “We delivered a blow to this organization.”  

Police helicopter drug raid

A Public Security Ministry helicopter hovers over the site of a Thursday morning raid. Some 240 cops, two helicopters and eight high-speed boats participated in the operation.


The Tico Times

Mata said the traffickers belong to a logistical wing of a larger, but as-of-yet unknown, transnational organization. Costa Ricans were involved in drug trafficking by air, sea and on the ground, he said.

The OIJ began its investigation after seizing 400 kilograms of cocaine found in a passenger vehicle last July. The driver was transporting drug shipments to one of the farms in Siquirres, and he died in a police chase.

During Thursday’s operation, authorities arrested a National Police officer who allegedly was leaking information about raids and anti-drug trafficking operations to the criminal organization. The police officer allegedly attempted to hide evidence by destroying a cellphone. The arrested men are Roberto Serafín de Dios Díaz Pineda, 50; Melvin Gerardo Díaz Pinada, 40; Greivin Frank Rojas Castro, 22; Michael Díaz Agüero, 26; Jonathan Dario Noguero, 26; and Ludan Díaz Pineda, 43.  

Costa Rican police have not yet seized any of the helicopters allegedly used in the drug trafficking operations. 

Trending Now

US Cracks Down on Costa Rica’s Narco Network with New Sanctions

The US Treasury Department moved against a Costa Rican drug trafficking ring today sanctioning four individuals and two entities tied to cocaine smuggling and...

Panama Canal Warns of Traffic Decline as Economic Uncertainty Grows

The Panama Canal will take in about $400 million less in the next fiscal year due to a drop in ship traffic caused by...

Costa Rica National Parks to Measure Tourism Impact

Costa Rica will now be able to measure the impact of tourism in its national parks, thanks to innovative environmental technology from The NeverRest...

Major Cocaine Seizure in Costa Rica’s South Highlights Ongoing Cartel Fight

Costa Rican police pulled off a big win against drug traffickers this Sunday, seizing over a ton of cocaine hidden in a tourism minibus...

Honduras agrees to receive migrants under new US deportation agreement

The US has signed a new deportation agreement with Honduras, allowing officials to send migrants from other countries there instead of keeping them in...

Honduras Community Demands Justice in Environmental Murder Case

Three defendants accused of murdering an environmental activist in Honduras 11 months ago appeared before a court this Thursday for a preliminary hearing, the...
Avatar
spot_img
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