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Crime and Punishment

Four U.S. men charged in connection with billion-dollar Costa Rica sportsbook operation

Four U.S. men allegedly running The WagerSpot and Hustler247 sportsbooks were charged recently in the U.S. in connection with an illegal sports betting ring headquartered in San José, Costa Rica.

Coast Guard seizes 2.5 tons of sailfish

Suspects were transferring the illegally transported sailfish to a seafood truck on shore when authorities confiscated the product.

Michigan fugitive John Saatio to be extradited Saturday

Costa Rican authorities said they wanted to extradite Saatio "as soon as possible" to prevent any further attempts at escape.

Police arrest suspected killers of Gerardo Cruz

In an ugly twist to the story of a young man hailed as a defender of women, police say he was killed by a jilted lover.

Costa Rica’s justice minister: ‘We are not releasing inmates’

Costa Rica’s Justice Minister Cecilia Sánchez Romero was forced this week to defend before the Legislative Assembly the partial release of hundreds of inmates to reduce overcrowding. The program has sparked criticism from various sectors, including the Public Security Ministry.

Puerto Viejo: Is it time to lift the US travel alert?

Crime is down in Puerto Viejo and the rest of Costa Rica's south Caribbean coast, police and residents say, and it's safer here than in some other popular tourist destinations. So why does a 2-year-old U.S. travel alert remain in place?

No prison sentences for petty theft, lawmakers propose

Two Costa Rican lawmakers want to fine small-time thieves instead of jailing them as a way to reduce pressure on the country's overcrowded prisons. Their draft bill calls for eliminating prison penalties for theft under ₡200,000.

Harsher prison sentences don’t curb crime

The region's tough-on-crime policies have failed. It's time for serious penal and judicial reforms that address rehabilitation as well as punishment.
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Keylor Navas Opens Up on Costa Rica’s World Cup Miss and His Club Revival

Keylor Navas opened up in a recent interview with journalist Yashin Quesada about Costa Rica's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and...

Costa Rica Rejects U.S. Bid to Extradite Caribbean Drug Boss

The Criminal Court of Limón turned down a U.S. request to extradite Gilberth Hernán Bell Fernández, known as 'Macho Coca,' on Monday afternoon. Judge...

Panama’s Tourism Surge in 2025 Puts Costa Rica on Notice

Panama recorded 3,004,266 international visitors in 2025. That total marks an 8.2 percent rise from the year before, according to figures released by the...

Costa Rica Camera Trap Records Birds Far Beyond Their Expected Range

It’s safe to say I probably like camera trapping a little too much. My work is dedicated to that one activity. My social media...