Airport police arrest Tico with more than a kilo of cocaine

Drug Control Police arrested a Costa Rican tourist at Juan Santamaría International Airport attempting to fly to Madrid, Spain with more than 1 kilogram of cocaine in his suitcase Monday, according to the Public Security Ministry (MSP).

The 38-year-old suspect, identified by his last name, Araya, tried to smuggle 1,180 grams of cocaine in two packages hidden in his luggage. Araya, from Los Ángeles de San Rafael in Heredia, did not have any priors, according to MSP.

Araya is the 16th drug smuggler nabbed at Juan Santamaría International Airport so far this year. The vast majority of the alleged smugglers were international tourists: eight from Guatemala, two from the Netherlands, and one each from Nicaragua, Mexico, Israel and Italy.

Araya was the second Costa Rican arrested with drugs at the airport this year.

Airport authorities have seized a total of 10.9 kilograms of cocaine so far in 2015, along with €85,415 and $102,333 in cash, according to MSP.