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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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Guanacaste Leads Coastal Recovery in Costa Rica Real Estate

Costa Rica’s real estate market heads into 2026 with steady footing after recent adjustments in high-end coastal areas. Buyers and investors find a landscape...

Australian Open 2026 Prize Money Hits Record High

Organizers of the Australian Open revealed a substantial boost in prize money for the 2026 tournament, pushing the total pool to a record 111.5...

Costa Rica Rescues Orphaned Manatee Calf in Tortuguero

A young female manatee washed up alone on a beach in Tortuguero National Park early on January 5, sparking a coordinated effort by local...

Costa Rica’s Liberia Airport Faces Demand Boom

The Daniel Oduber International Airport has grown beyond what planners first imagined when it opened in 2011. Officials from Costa Rica's Federated College of...