No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaUS: Moín Container Terminal Largest Cocaine Hub in Costa Rica

US: Moín Container Terminal Largest Cocaine Hub in Costa Rica

The United States Treasury Department has issued a warning, asserting that the Moín Container Terminal stands as the primary hub for cocaine trafficking in Costa Rica, ranking among the largest in Central America.

This statement was delivered from Washington, D.C., alongside the announcement of sanctions against Gilberth Bell Fernández, known as Macho Coca, recognized by U.S. authorities as a significant figure in Costa Rican drug trafficking.

The communication underlines that Limón is home to the Moín Container Terminal, the largest center for cocaine trafficking in Costa Rica and one of the region’s largest.

Furthermore, it draws attention to the fact that 90% of homicides in the Caribbean province are intricately linked to violence stemming from conflicts between organized crime groups. In 2022, there were 657 homicides recorded in the country, a quarter of which occurred in the province of Limón.

According to the Minister of Security, Mario Zamora, all the information presented earlier is based on past events that had an impact on the current government.

Moreover, he believes that there would be damage to the country’s image only if nothing were being done to address the issue.

“It does not refer to new facts but to past events. All the actions taken by the United States government are in response to events that Costa Rica has been tolerating, and today, they explode in our faces,” said the official.

“What would affect us is if we were not correcting it. Today, we are sending the message of correction, and that allowed the President not only to be invited by the United States but also to be received at the White House, precisely because of the significant efforts we are making in terms of security,” Zamora added.

The U.S. communication dated November 15 arrives four months after the implementation of scanners at APM Terminals through “Operation Sovereignty,” defended by the government as a plan to completely eliminate drug shipments to Europe.

However, there have been leaks, such as the one reported by the National Police of Spain at the end of October, detailing the seizure of 720 kilograms of cocaine in a container with scrap metal from Costa Rica.

Additionally, the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands detected a shipment of 494 kilograms of cocaine in 1,950 packages.

This information was published on the social media accounts of the Public Ministry of the Dutch city at the end of August. The Ministry of Security stated weeks later that they would initiate an investigation once they received official information.

On the flip side, they highlight seizures like the one last Friday, where 120 kilograms of cocaine were found hidden under a bunk bed in a truck attempting to enter APM Terminals.

They also reported the seizure of two tons of cocaine off the coast of Limón on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. Public Security detailed that the crew abandoned the ship and ventured into the mountains but were detained by officers of the Public Force.

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Sibö Chocolate Wins Bronze at Int’l Awards

Chocolate Sibö once again stood out at the International Chocolate Awards, the largest fine chocolate competition based in New York. The Costa Rican brand...

Costa Rica’s Tourism Sector Alarmed Over Rising Violence and U.S. Criticism

Tourism leaders in Costa Rica are warning that rising crime and international criticism could damage the country’s reputation as one of Latin America’s safest...

President Chaves Downplays Costa Rica’s Security Crisis Amid Record Homicides

President Rodrigo Chaves brushed off concerns about Costa Rica's surging violence during his Wednesday press conference, insisting the security situation "is not as serious"...

Costa Rica Replaces One-Lane Bridges as Traffic and Population Grow

As the infrastructure of Costa Rica advances, with new four-lane highways and a series of bypasses around San José that avoid the narrow, congested...

Former Zoo to Become Costa Rica’s First Urban Natural Park

Simón Bolívar Park, in San José, will be the first space in the country to become an Urban Natural Park. The project, led by...

El Salvador Schools Enforce Military-Style Uniform Inspections

El Salvador's public schools will start enforcing daily inspections for students' uniforms and haircuts from August 20, as ordered by the new education minister,...
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