Costa Rica Border Police seize 7,000 doses of pharmaceutical drugs, other contraband at Nicaragua border

Border Police over the weekend conducted 25 operations along Costa Rica’s northern border with Nicaragua, confiscating approximately ₡10 million ($18,000) in contraband from smugglers.

Seized items included packaged food, snacks, cheese, beer, liquor and 7,000 doses of pharmaceutical drugs including injectables, cough and cold syrups, ointments and pills. None of the medicine had the required Health Ministry permits, Public Security Ministry officials said.

The police operations occurred at border checkpoints in Peñas Blancas, San Dimas and Valle Verde.

Since mid-April, Border Police have seized nearly two tons of smuggled merchandise, including clothing, perishable goods, liquor and cellphones, the ministry reported.

Cops have several sites along the border under surveillance, and in the last two months, police have confiscated more than 23,000 doses of various pharmaceutical drugs, including 50 doses of morphine and 7,000 tablets for veterinary use.