No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveColombian FARC Member Extradited from Costa Rica

Colombian FARC Member Extradited from Costa Rica

Héctor Orlando Martínez, a leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) arrested here in August, was extradited Dec. 21 to Colombia, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.

Martínez is accused of participating in a massacre in Bojayá, Colombia, in which insurgents fired on a church and killed more than 100 people. He is also believed to be part of the “Frente 58” FARC group responsible for moving drugs and arms through Central America.

Martínez was arrested last August in the Pacific port town of Puntarenas, where he had been living since 2001 after he married a Tica and quickly obtained Costa Rican residency (TT, Aug. 18, 2006).

He was extradited for “national security measures and to give absolute respect to human rights,” said Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal.

 

Trending Now

Whooping Cough Spreads Faster in Costa Rica This Year

Health authorities in Costa Rica report a steady climb in pertussis cases throughout 2025, prompting alerts for residents and visitors alike. The Ministry of...

Trump Confirms U.S. Strike on Venezuelan Drug Loading Site

President Donald Trump stated that the United States carried out a strike on a Venezuelan facility used for loading drugs onto boats. He described...

Panama Reports Rising Criminal Pressure as Cocaine Flow Surges

Panama ruled out on Wednesday that the Gulf Clan, Colombia’s largest drug-trafficking cartel, maintains a permanent presence in its border areas, though it reported...

Costa Rica Launches Campaign Against Elder Abandonment

Health officials in Costa Rica marked December 24 with a fresh push against a growing problem: the spike in abandonment and mistreatment of older...

Costa Rica’s Colón Strength in Central America Tests National Competitiveness

The Costa Rican colón has emerged as the strongest currency in Central America this year, posting gains that outpace its regional peers. Yet this...

Costa Rica Slides Further in Global Fight Against Organized Crime

Costa Rica has fallen to 58th place out of 193 countries in the 2025 Global Organized Crime Index, a drop of 14 positions from...
Avatar
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica