Much of the drug that arrives in the United States and Europe leaves the producing countries of South America and transits through Central America, including Costa Rica.
The four men arrested — three Nicaraguans and a Costa Rican — did not have criminal records. If convicted, they would face up to 20 years in prison.
A U.S. plane first spotted the smuggling vessel 200 miles south of Mexico off the coast of Central America. It was carrying a total of 16,000 pounds of narcotics.
Coast Guard vessels from both countries detained two fishing boats transporting drugs and another transporting fuel barrels, suspected of supplying smuggling boats.
