No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimeAirport police nab 2 Dutch women allegedly smuggling €85,000

Airport police nab 2 Dutch women allegedly smuggling €85,000

Some people complain that Costa Rica is too expensive. But it’s unlikely you’d need this much cash for a vacation.

Police at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela arrested two Dutch women entering the country from Madrid, Spain on Wednesday evening after discovering that they were carrying more than €85,000 in cash, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.

Travelers must claim any cash denominations over $10,000 in value at customs.

One of the two suspects identified as Paterson, 35, was carrying €7,530 in a carry-on bag and had another €70,000 hidden around her body. Her travel partner, Lympoa, 41, had €7,600 in another carry-on bag. All together, the cash totaled €85,130.

Both suspects were reported to the Drug Control Police and delivered to the prosecutor’s office.

 

Trending Now

Costa Rica Supreme Court Rejects Fernández Narco Infiltration Claim

Costa Rica’s Supreme Court formally rejected President Laura Fernández’s claim that organized crime and drug trafficking have penetrated the judiciary, escalating a public dispute...

Costa Rica Rents Keep Rising Even as Inflation Stays Low

Costa Rica’s cost-of-living squeeze is showing up in one of the places residents feel most directly: rent. Housing rents rose 3.67% between May 2023...

Costa Rica Bull Shark Festival Highlights Tourism and Conservation

Playas del Coco will host the Festival del Tiburón Toro from tomorrow July 3 until Sunday the 5th, bringing researchers, divers, students, tourism businesses...

Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce and the Costa Rica Sloths Named After Them

As Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce draw global attention around a reported wedding celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York, Costa Rica’s...

Brazil Crashes Out of World Cup After Shock Loss to Norway

Brazil’s World Cup is over after a stunning 2-1 loss to Norway in the round of 16, a result that sends one of Latin...

Argentina Beats Egypt in Dramatic World Cup Comeback

Argentina survived a major scare at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, coming from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 and reach the...

Costa Rica on Green Alert as Tropical Wave Triggers Flooding Risk

The National Emergency Commission (CNE) has declared a Green Alert for the entire country as Tropical Wave No. 19 moved across Costa Rica today,...

Paraguay Falls to France as Mbappé Penalty Ends Gritty World Cup Run

Paraguay’s World Cup run ended the hard way Saturday, with La Albirroja pushing France into one of its most uncomfortable matches of the tournament...

João Fonseca Leaves Wimbledon With More Proof Brazil Has a Tennis Star

João Fonseca’s Wimbledon run ended earlier than Brazil wanted, but not before the 19-year-old gave Latin American tennis another clear sign that its next...
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel