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Crime Beat

Judge approves extradition of Mexican drug lord Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán

Infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán is one step closer to extradition to the United States after a Thursday ruling.

Park rangers arrested in drug bust

Two park rangers were among those arrested Monday in a raid on a drug organization that officials say grew and shipped marijuana from southern Costa Rica.

San José to get nearly 100 new security cameras

Araya said the municipality is investing approximately ₡360 million ($647,000) in improving the city’s video surveillance system, which currently has 120 cameras mainly in downtown San José.

Judge orders closure of overcrowded San Sebastián prison

Costa Rica's notorious San Sebastián prison must be closed within 18 months, according to a judge's ruling that cited rampant overcrowding and inhumane conditions at the prison.

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.

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.

Video shows suspected killers of Gerardo Cruz, who confronted man filming up skirt

Judicial Investigation Police on Wednesday released a video of two men suspected of killing Gerardo Cruz Barquero, the 22-year-old man who in October became famous for posting a video to his Facebook page of himself confronting a man who had been trying to film up a woman’s skirt with a smartphone camera.

US tourist denounces rape in Puerto Viejo

A U.S. woman filed a criminal complaint against a man who she says raped her last Sunday on a beach in Costa Rica's Caribbean beach town of Puerto Viejo.

Costa Rica homicide rate hits record high

After several years of decreasing or stable homicide rates, the number of killings in Costa Rica spiked in 2015, leading law enforcement officials to call for more aggressive prevention, investigation and prosecution of organized crime.

Boozy bandit tries to steal $50,000 ambulance in Costa Rica

The thought of the holidays might drive some to drink but drinking and stealing an ambulance?
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Environmental Concerns Prompt Calls to Halt Ocean Cove Project in Manuel Antonio

A tourism and residential development in Manuel Antonio faces growing scrutiny as local figures push for a construction stop due to alleged harm to...

Death of Foreign Activist Adds to Costa Rica’s Mounting Security Concerns

Authorities in Costa Rica continue to investigate the homicide of 36-year-old Francisco Ojeda Garcés, a Chilean environmentalist who had lived in the country for...

New York Times Spotlights Costa Rica’s Osa as Top 2026 Travel Pick

The Osa Peninsula has landed on The New York Times' annual list of 52 places to visit in 2026, ranking fourth overall. This recognition...

El Salvador’s Bukele to Break Ground on Costa Rica’s Mega-Prison

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador plans to arrive in Costa Rica next week for an official visit focused on the country's new high-security...