A Costa Rican man wanted through Interpol and linked by authorities to drug trafficking and at least 22 homicides in Costa Rica has been captured in Colombia, where he now faces extradition proceedings. Óscar David Román Ovares, known by the alias “Kokin,” was detained in Sabaneta, Antioquia, south of Medellín, during a joint operation involving Colombian police and Costa Rican authorities, according to reports based on Colombian police information.
Authorities say Román Ovares was sought through an Interpol Red Notice for alleged illicit drug trafficking. Interpol describes a Red Notice as a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or similar legal action. It is not itself an international arrest warrant.
The operation was carried out by Colombia’s Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol, with support from Costa Rica’s Interpol office. Investigators said the arrest followed months of information sharing, surveillance, field checks, database searches and intelligence work that helped locate Román Ovares in Colombian territory.
Colombian authorities identify Román Ovares as a key suspected member of “Los Saggy,” a transnational criminal organization accused of coordinating international drug trafficking operations. Investigators also allege the group laundered drug money through businesses and high-value vehicles.
Costa Rican authorities also link Román Ovares to at least 22 homicides, alleging he played either an intellectual or material role in several killings. Those allegations have not yet been tested in court, and he should be considered innocent unless convicted.
After his capture, Román Ovares was placed at the disposal of the Directorate of International Affairs of Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office, which will handle the extradition process. If returned to Costa Rica, he is expected to face the charges attributed to him by national authorities.
The arrest adds to a series of recent cases showing how Costa Rican criminal groups are operating beyond the country’s borders, particularly through drug routes that connect Central America, Colombia and larger international markets.
Costa Rica has faced growing concern in recent years over drug-linked killings, money laundering and the ability of criminal groups to move money and suspects across borders. The capture of a fugitive accused of ties to 22 homicides is likely to be presented by authorities as a significant step in that broader fight, though the case now depends on Colombia’s extradition process and Costa Rica’s ability to prove the allegations in court.
