Costa Rican prosecutors are warning that environmental crimes such as wildlife trafficking, illegal mining, illegal logging and the unlawful trade in natural resources are increasingly tied to organized criminal networks with international reach. Judicial authorities say these crimes are no longer isolated cases carried out by small local groups.
Instead, prosecutors describe a more sophisticated criminal model built around extraction, transport, processing, sales and money laundering. Luis Diego Hernández, coordinating prosecutor with the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office, said criminal groups that have traditionally been linked to other illegal activities, including drug trafficking, appear to have identified Costa Rica’s natural resources as another source of income.
The shift is being driven by several factors, according to prosecutors. Gold prices have made illegal mining more profitable, while e-commerce, encrypted platforms, social media and cryptocurrency payments have made it easier to move wildlife, timber, minerals and other products across borders while making transactions harder to trace.
Alejandro AlpÃzar, a prosecutor with the Deputy Environmental Prosecutor’s Office, said environmental crime has grown into a profit-driven activity often connected to broader criminal structures.
He warned that some groups are moving into environmental crimes because the profits can be high while the legal risks are often perceived as lower than in drug trafficking or other major offenses. AlpÃzar said these crimes can generate profits comparable to narcotrafficking but face much lighter penalties.
Authorities have identified routes linking Central America with markets in North America and Europe. Prosecutors said demand exists abroad for wild animals, collectible insects, valuable woods such as cocobolo and products connected to illegal fishing.
For Costa Rica, the concern is especially serious because our country is both a source of biodiversity and a possible transit point for trafficking networks. Animals, plants, timber and marine products can be extracted locally, moved through regional routes and sold to private collectors or buyers overseas.
Illegal mining has also become a major concern. Prosecutors have warned that gold extraction in unauthorized areas can destroy forest cover, contaminate rivers and introduce toxic substances into ecosystems. These crimes can also bring armed groups, informal camps, lookouts and other security risks into rural communities.
The environmental damage can be long-lasting. Wildlife trafficking removes species from fragile ecosystems. Illegal logging affects forests and water systems. Illegal mining can pollute rivers, damage habitats and threaten nearby communities. Prosecutors say the result is not only biodiversity loss but also wider disruption to food security, public health and local economies.
Authorities also pointed to possible links between environmental crimes, corruption and money laundering. Large amounts of money can move through informal or illegal markets, making these cases difficult to investigate with traditional enforcement tools. The growing use of digital platforms has added another challenge. Wildlife and natural products can be advertised or arranged through social media, encrypted sites and online marketplaces, while payments can be made through electronic currencies that complicate financial tracing.
Prosecutors say this has forced investigators to adapt. Environmental cases now require not only field inspections and seizures, but also financial investigation, digital tracking, interagency cooperation and international coordination. Costa Rican authorities reminded the public that wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, unauthorized mining and transporting natural resources without the required permits are punishable under national law.
Residents who witness suspected environmental crimes can report them to the Ministry of Environment and Energy, known as MINAE, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), or the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors say the larger challenge is keeping Costa Rica’s legal and investigative tools from falling behind criminal groups that are using modern technology, cross-border contacts and illicit financial systems to profit from the country’s natural resources.
