Celso Gamboa

SAN SEBASTIÁN, San José – Special agents and prosecutors in San José attacked a large organized crime network dedicated to credit card and check fraud, among other crimes, on Wednesday morning, arresting a total of 22 suspects in 24 separate raids throughout the Central Valley.

Costa Rican Health Minister María Elena López Núñez on Friday afternoon submitted her resignation to President Luis Guillermo Solís, citing family and personal reasons.

Gustavo Mata, vice minister of public security and former Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) deputy director, will assume the minister’s post on Feb. 16.

Amid rumors swarming around Casa Presidencial this week of a major shakeup in President Luis Guillermo Solís’ Cabinet, word came Tuesday that Public Security Minister Celso Gamboa would step down effective Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Public Security Minister Celso Gamboa on Monday reported that joint patrols in recent weeks by the U.S. and Costa Rican coast guards have netted almost 1.5 metric tons of cocaine and led to the arrest of 11 suspects.

In the last voting of Tuesday's full legislative session, lawmakers approved docking permission for 44 U.S. Coast Guard vessels that will conduct joint-patrol operations with Costa Rican authorities from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2015.

The Costa Rican Coast Guard seized over 4 metric tons of cocaine off the Pacific coast on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, according to Public Security Minister Celso Gamboa, in what is likely the largest cocaine seizure ever in Costa Rica.

Debates over whether or not U.S. Navy vessels should be allowed to patrol and dock in Costa Rica flared once again after Public Security Minister Celso Gamboa presented the Legislative Assembly with a list of U.S. ships that may participate in joint patrols.

Agents of Costa Rica's Drug Control Police on Tuesday morning arrested nine suspects accused of belonging to a criminal organization dedicated to smuggling drugs into Europe.

Costa Rica's battle with international drug traffickers continued this weekend with the Saturday seizure of 1.7 tons of cocaine during two early-morning raids near both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.