No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimeCosta Rican police dismantle international drug trafficking gang

Costa Rican police dismantle international drug trafficking gang

Agents of Costa Rica’s Drug Control Police (PCD) on Tuesday morning arrested nine suspects accused of belonging to a criminal organization dedicated to smuggling drugs into Europe.

Public Security Minister Celso Gamboa said at a press conference that the arrests took place in 10 simultaneous raids conducted in the provinces of Limón, Alajuela, Puntarenas and San José.

Detainees include six Costa Ricans, one Colombian, one Dominican and an Israeli. According to Gamboa, the suspects belong to a gang that includes three men arrested in Limón last week.

In a central Pacific beach condo in Jacó owned by an Israeli with the last name Shoya, agents found a hydroponics lab with 70 marijuana plants and 15.621 doses of LSD.

The Tico Times
The Tico Times

The PCD said the gang was led by a Colombian man with the last name Higuita, 47, and consisted of 12 people (11 men and one woman).

In a previous raid in Limón on May 16, police seized 778 kilos of cocaine, three firearms and $593,400 and ₡3.4 million ($ 6,600) in cash.

According to the PCD, the Colombians were responsible for receiving and storing the drugs sent from their country via the Caribbean Sea.

The Israeli man was a link to Europe, mostly the Netherlands, where he traveled frequently to close deals and collect payments, the investigation alleges.

Two Dominicans with the last names Sierra Tejeda and Soto Santana were responsible for hiding the drugs inside yucca and pineapple shipments, with the help of six Costa Ricans identified as Víquez Ramírez, Miranda Campos, Montero Picado, Rojas Guzmán, Guzmán Picado and Rose Mitshore.

The Tico Times
The Tico Times

The investigation began last year, and initial evidence against the group was found during a seizure in the Netherlands of 16 kilos of cocaine in January, also hidden in a pineapple shipment, Gamboa said.

Chief Prosecutor Jorge Chavarría said the raids helped dismantle an entire gang and expose their operations in the country.

 

The Tico Times
The Tico Times

Trending Now

Melinda Hildebrand Confirmed as US Ambassador to Costa Rica

The United States Senate has approved Melinda "Mindy" Hildebrand as the new ambassador to our country, marking a fresh chapter in bilateral ties between...

Costa Rica Shaken by a Quake with No Injuries Reported

A strong earthquake struck near Quepos late last night, sending tremors across parts of our country and even into our neighbor Panama. The quake,...

Belize Signs Safe Third Country Deal with US for Asylum Seekers

Belize and the United States have sealed a deal that positions Belize as a temporary host for migrants pursuing asylum in the U.S., according...

Why This U.S. Expat in Costa Rica Chooses Local Over Headlines

In the weeks leading up to my trip to the US, I scanned several news sites both left-leaning and right-leaning to better inform myself...

US sanctions Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro

The United States announced on Friday financial sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro for failing to combat drug trafficking, drawing a strong response from...

Costa Rica Lawmakers Push Bill for Guaranteed Public Beach Access

A push to keep Costa Rica's beaches open to everyone took a step forward last week when a legislative committee approved a bill requiring...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
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