Police seize over $100,000 since opening new border checkpoint

Costa Rican Border Police have seized over $100,000 in cash in the southern region of the country since opening a new Inter-American Highway checkpoint in June.
In the early hours of Friday morning, police confiscated a cool $38,946 from a Costa Rican man driving to Panama. The cash, all in U.S. dollars, was hidden in secret compartments inside a Toyota Tercel. Public Security Minister Celso Gamboa said the driver was arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
Prior to Friday’s seizure, police have seized at least $79,000 in cash at the southern Kilometer 35 checkpoint, according to previous statements from the Public Security Ministry (MSP). MSP did not specify where along the highway the arrest took place.
Authorities have confiscated contraband Costa Rican National Men’s Team jerseys, hundreds of cases of liquor, flatscreen televisions and fireworks at the Kilometer 35 checkpoint. On June 30, police arrested a Nicaraguan suspect for smuggling two Ghanaian migrants into Costa Rica from Panama.
You may be interested

Panama’s economy registers historic decline due to pandemic
AFP - March 2, 2021The economy of Panama, one of the largest in Central America, suffered a historic contraction of 17.9% in 2020 compared…

IMF loan ‘ultimately benefits all Costa Ricans,’ Alvarado says in interview
The Tico Times - March 2, 2021The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved a three-year, $1.78 billion loan to help stabilize Costa Rica's economy. Read: IMF…

This day in history: Pope John Paul II visits Costa Rica
The Tico Times - March 2, 2021Tuesday is the 38th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Costa Rica. As the first pope to visit the country,…