| ARCHIVE | Published
Friday, October 19, 2018 - First news
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Family of missing
British journalist
appeals for help
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 By A.M. Costa Rica staff UK authorities and the family of missing British journalist Michael Dixon have renewed their appeal for information nine years after he went missing in Costa Rica. "If you know something that could help me find out what happened to my dear are, I beg you, with all my heart, to come forward," Michael's mother, Lynn Dixon, said. The British foreign office has promised to formally request an update on the case from Costa Rican authorities. "We've been fighting for almost 10 years to solve this mystery and we'll keep on fighting even if we have to do it alone," Michael's brother, David Dixon, said. "My dad recently passed away never knowing what happened, I cannot let that happen to my mum," he said. Michael George Dixon was reportedly seen at the Villas Macondo Hotel in Tamarindo, Costa Rica on Monday, 18 October, 2009. The hotel reports that Dixon arrived in the afternoon, checked-in and said that he would stay one day. He has not been seen again. According to the family "evidence indicates he was the victim of violent crime, but British and Costa Rican authorities failed to properly investigate." The 33-year old British journalist had been living in Belgium and working for a US magazine. He was 1.7m tall, with a slender build, brown eyes, short dark hair, and light brown skin. According to the Missing Americans Project, in recent times more than 20 foreign nationals have vanished and most cases remain unsolved. They are: Gerard and Claude Dubois, French - April 2011 (Quepos), Barbara Struncova, Czech (expat) - Dec 2010 (Tamarindo), Austin Allen Hiers, American - Oct 2010 (Tamarindo), Steve Edelson, American - Sept 2010 (Puerto Viejo) , Kim Paris, Canadian (expat) - Aug 2010 (Cóbano), Roger Peter Biennvennu, American (expat) - July 2010 (Quebradas), Kelly Robert Nutting, American (expat) - March 2010 (Golfito), John Scibeck, American - Jan 2010 (Playa Portrero),Herbert Langmaier and Horst Hauser, Austrian (expats) - Dec 2009 (Puerto Jiménez), Michael Dixon, UK - October 2009 (Tamarindo), David Gimelfarb, American - August 2009 (Rincon de Vieja).
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 David Dixon (Michael's brother) courtesy photo Michael
Dixon was reportedly seen at
the Villas Macondo Hotel in
Tamarindo, on Monday October
18, 2009.
Craig Snell, American (expat) - February 2009 (Ostional), Brendan Dobbins, Australian - March 2005 (Tamarindo). And more recently William Sean Creighton Kopko, and US Citizen reported missing this week. "Corruption is rife in this country and all the investigations into Michael's disappearance were never fulfilled," David Dixon said. The family is calling for help. If you know anything that could help them to find Michael, contact his brother David Dixon, U.S. phone: +44 7920 792 204, email: info@helpfindmichaeldixon.com. Information can also be provided to British foreign office to Nicola Powel, phone +44 20 7008 0195, email nicola.powell@fco.gov.uk, and in Costa Rica, the person in charge is Luis Guillermo Fonseca, phone: +506 2666-1103, email: luisfonsecah@gmail.com. The updated information about this case may be reached at HelpFindMichaelDixon.com |
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Police give
security advice to
cruise tourists
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By A.M. Costa Rica staff The Tourist Police of the Security Ministry prepared a police advisory packet to welcome some seven thousand tourists who arrived on three cruises to the Puntarenas and Limón wharves. Carlos Days, police director, explained that it is a structured plan aimed at welcoming tourists and ensuring their return to their countries of origin with the best impression of the country. "The officers receive the tourists with security advice, give them accompaniment to the places they visit, give assistance in the language and ensure a good return to the dock." On Thursday, two cruise ships arrived at Puntarenas dock, The Seven Seas and the Celebrity Princess, and the Caribbean Princess arrived in Limón. According to Rigoberto Rodríguez, director of the police in Puntarenas, "the idea of these actions is to give support and security to the cruise ships that come to visit the country, because of the economic importance that this activity generates. We work hard for tourists have the best concept in Costa Rica." According to the information of the Ministry, in Costa Rica, just as in any other part of the world, travelers are exposed new situations and may suffer mishaps. These can be avoided if you follow some practical safety advice. Security specialists give the following tips to avoid being in dangerous situations. -Always carry a perfectly legible copy of your passport with you and keep the original in the hotel safe or on the ship with all important documents. -If you need to change dollars, use only recognized bank agencies or exchange houses. -Carry only the amount of money you will need. Do not wear valuable jewelry. -Know your destination in advance. Map a possible route. If you are lost, look for a public place to consult your map or ask for directions. -Use ATMs located in areas with good lighting and avoid doing it late at night. Take your money and go to a safe place. -Your belongings are not worth more than your life or your physical integrity. If a delinquent confronts you, do not offer resistance. Deliver what he asks, trying to observe his characteristics. -If your credit card is stolen, initiate the cancellation procedure immediately.
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 Security Ministry courtesy
photo
Tourist
police give support and security to the cruise
ships that come to visit the country.
-Never neglect or lose sight of your bags, especially those in which you carry valuable items. -Beware of distractions. If someone comes to talk with you or some event catches your attention, remember not to lose sight of your luggage. -If you carry suitcases in the trunk, ask the driver to use the identification ticket to avoid confusion or loss. In addition, this will serve against future claims against the carrier. -If you must carry valuables with you put as much as possible carry your carry-on luggage with you. If you travel by bus do not place your belongings in the upper cubicles of the seats, especially if you plan to sleep during the bus trip. -If the bus makes a technical stop, take your things with you. Do not leave them inside the bus for any reason. -When you are registering at the hotel reception, always be alert of the people near you and your luggage. -Make use of the safe deposit box services offered by the hotel and the services of the tourist information office. -Have the telephone numbers of the hotel or the place where you are staying and the emergency number in Costa Rica 911. The ministry confirmed that a special commission was created to hold meetings to evaluate and update this strategy of prevention and safety for tourists. In addition, it will continue to provide greater vigilance in the areas where the cruise ships dock. |
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Emergency Commission maintains the alerts despite improved weather |
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By A.M.
Costa Rica staff
The National Emergency Commission continues to warn the public of dangerous conditions even though the report of the National Meteorological Institute indicates that there will be an improvement in the weather conditions in the next hours. Shelters remain open in the provinces of Guanacaste, Puntarenas , Central Valley and Cartago, and are ready to care for people affected by the inclement weather. According to the last report of the Commission, there are 22 shelters caring for 990 people whose homes have been damaged. Other families were evacuated and taken to these sites as a preventive measure due to the flooding of rivers, especially in the North Pacific and Central Pacific. Tropical waves 40, 41 and 42 passed through the country in the last two weeks and some areas are still in danger so a Red Alert is still in effect in Lepanto, Paquera, Cóbano, Puntarenas, Nicoya, Nandayure, Hojancha, Carrillo and Santa Cruz. The Commission also expanded the Yellow Alert for San Jose, Sarapiquí, La Cruz, Liberia, Bagaces, Cañas, Abangares and Tilarán. For the President of the Commission, Alexander Solis, the weather improvements over time are positive factor, since "the fact that we have a substantial improvement will gradually allow people to start returning to their homes or the commission will be able to do the evaluation to determine whether or not they can return to their homes." According to the latest report, approximately 1,534 packages of supplies have been distributed including foam mattresses, blankets, food and water for the humanitarian assistance of families who are in a vulnerable condition.
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 National
Emergency
Commission
courtesy photo
Families
were evacuated
and taken to
these sites as
a preventive
measure due to
the flooding
of rivers.
At the moment, structural damage has been reported in 51 homes, roads and bridges because of the rains, floods, strong winds, that occurred during the week. The Meteorological Institute estimates that normal conditions will return on Friday with some rain for short periods. However, the Commission calls on the population to remain vigilant, especially those who live in areas with vulnerability to flooding, since the cumulative rainfall of these weeks has left the soil saturated, allowed some sewage to accumulate and increased water volume in rivers. |
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How do you
play the Christmas lottery in Costa Rica?
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By A.M. Costa Rica staff In response to reader requests, AM Costa Rica staff will explain how the lottery is played in Costa Rica. Gambling is a monopoly in Costa Rica. Except for casino games (which must meet strict requirements), the common lottery is carried out by the Social Protection Board of San José. This institution was founded in 1845 under the name of the Charity Board of San José, it is an autonomous institution responsible for social welfare and philanthropic programs. It is also the institution in charge of organizing the National Lottery which includes the issuance of lottery tickets, lotteries and the delivery of prizes. The board has lottery stores and other gambling games nationwide. Funds obtained through the lottery go to programs that assist the elderly, those deprived of liberty, persons with disabilities, victims of sexual exploitation, special education schools, abandoned children, cancer prevention and others. The traditional and highly anticipated prize is the Christmas Lottery, known as the ‘Christmas Gordo.’ The lottery consists of the issuance of a ticket (known as Entero in Spanish). This ticket consists of 40 fractions. The ticket has a serial number of three digits and a main number of two digits (from zero-zero to 99). For example, a ticket with the series 500 is composed of forty fractions with the number 50. Then the ticket is identified as 500-50 (series and number). The player can buy a whole ticket or a fraction if he wishes. There is no obligation to buy only the full ticket. Each ticket has 40 fractions or units. In the Christmas lottery, the cost of a full ticket is $135 and a fraction costs $3.37. This year the jackpot to the ticket that comes with the series and winning number is $2.7 million per ticket or $67,000 for each fraction. In addition to the jackpot, a second prize of $269,000 will be awarded for a whole ticket and for a fraction the prize will be $6,725. There will also be a third prize of $134,000 per ticket or $3,350 per fraction. In addition to these three prizes, 97 additional prizes will be awarded for various amounts between $800 and $25,000 per ticket. |
 Social Protection Board
courtesy photo
Christmas lottery jackpot $2.7 million will be play on December 17th. An innovation this year is another prize called the Accumulated Prize. This extra prize consists of drawing 50 balls inside a tombola. One of these balls has the word Accumulated written on it. When turning the tombola, one of the 50 balls would come out through the lower slot, if this single ball comes out with the word Accumulated, then another series and another number would be chosen to draw that extra prize. The ticket that wins that prize is awarded $675,000 or $16,875 for a fraction. The Christmas Lottery can now be purchased at any official store of the board. The official stores are always identified with the signs of the board and sell the lottery at the price established by the board. The Christmas raffle will be on December 17 and is usually broadcast live on channel 13, the official channel of the government. The numbers and winning series will be published on the official website of the Board http://www.jps.go.cr/ People who wish to try their luck before the Christmas raffle, can play the lottery every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. These traditional raffles are known as Changes (Tuesday and Friday) and theNational Lottery (Sundays). These weekly lotteries are also televised by the official government channel. The prizes for these weekly drawings are $134,000 per ticket on Tuesdays and Fridays and on Sundays they are $269,000 for each award-winning entire ticket. The weekly prizes are also published on the day after each draw on the website of the Board http://www.jps.go.cr/
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| Police arrest 5 for fuel theft |
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By A.M.
Costa Rica staff
The Office of the Prosecutor in San Joaquín de Flores confirmed the arrest of five people suspected of committing the crime of stealing fuel from the oil pipeline of the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (RECOPE). According to the police report, the five detainees will also be charged with aggravated robbery, damage to state assets, and damage to the environment. Walter Espinoza, Director of the Judicial Investigation Organization, confirmed that three of the five men captured have criminal records. The men are listed by their surnames: Jimnez Valverde, age 33, has been arrested for drug trafficking, Salazar Astua, age 24, had an arrest for domestic violence, Gutierrez Dober, age 25, also had an arrest for domestic violence. The last two suspects listed by surnames, are: Salazar Lopez, 29, who was driving the truck, and a fifth man, also surnamed Salazar Lopez, age 23 have not criminal records. According to the police report, the capture was made after the men loaded a truck with 11 containers of fuel which apparently was stolen directly from the RECOPE pipeline. "On October 10, I received the RECOPE complaint related to the detection of fuel theft in the Heredia sector of Rusia," said Espinoza. The officers managed to find a building that looked like a warehouse but which had about 20 meters of pipes installed. They found that these pipes were being used to extract the fuel directly from the pipeline. A joint operation by police and agents of the Directorate of Intelligence and National Security, located the warehouse and set up surveillance, said the report. The spotted “several men who carried weapons,” and saw a truck inside the warehouse. After continued surveillance, the police determined that there was fuel being loaded and made arrests. "The next morning when the truck was loaded with containers, we noticed that it was leaving the place and that it was being guarded by another car, type 4x4. It was also observed that there were four men in the vehicle and one more that was driving the truck," said Espinoza. |
 Judicial
Investigation
Organization courtesy
photo
The capture was made after the men loaded a truck with 11 containers of fuel which apparently was stolen directly from the RECOPE pipeline. At the time
of the arrest, the
vehicle that was
guarding the truck
tried to get away.
Espinoza stated that
the driver of the 4x4
evidently saw the
police stop the truck
because he made a
U-turn and tried to
flee the scene but the
car was stopped by
other officers.
According to the police report, when the officers proceeded to open the truck to verify the contents, they found containers holding approximately 1,000 liters of jet fuel with a value of about $18,000. In addition to the arrest of the men and the seizure of fuel, the police also confiscated a 9mm Beretta 600 and about $1,000 in cash, said Espinoza. The men were sent to the prosecutor's office of Heredia, and the investigators continued with the search process inside the warehouse where the containers were loaded. In these cases, all the material and evidence that collaborates with the investigation will be confiscated by the police. At the close of this edition, the precautionary measures that could be imposed by the Public Prosecutor's Office had not yet been determined. |
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On restriction of legal gun ownership |
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By A.M. Costa Rica
staff
I was sorry to read A.M. Costa Rica's article about the legislation being proposed to restrict legal gun ownership even more in Costa Rica. As a gringo land owner, I do not feel really secure in my own home when I hear about how violent the thieves and robbers have become over the years, a function of the drug culture and lack of respect for human life or because so many young people have no real sense of morality. However, just as the left wing in USA politics continues to try to eliminate gun ownership, common sense dictates that law abiding gun owners are not the problem. In the USA, how many NRA members, or legal carry permit owners have been involved in any illegal and aggressive use of firearms?. That almost never happens. It's the illegal gun owners, criminals, and youthful thugs that buy black market guns, or steal guns that are the problem. Illegal guns will always be available on the black market, and if only the bad guys have firearms, law abiding citizens will have no way to defend themselves, their families and their property. I have no idea what thought process, if any, is being used by proponents of gun control and taking away or limiting the number of firearms law abiding people are allowed to have. Costa Rica is already one of the most difficult countries in which to obtain a permit to own a gun legally, and, for us gringo's who are not residents, we are totally at the mercy of the violent criminals. How appealing is it to retire looking for a beautiful and peaceful country if one cannot legally have a firearm to protect their homes and very lives. |
 A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
photo
Honest and law abiding citizens clearly should have the right to be able to protect themselves against the threat of criminals. I do agree with licensing requirements, including mental evaluations, and background checks to help prevent people who should not have firearms being able to obtain and possess them legally. That also is common sense. Jim Day- Playa del Coco ------- Editor’s note: The views or opinions expressed by the author are the sole and exclusive responsibility of the sender and do not necessarily represent the opinion of A.M. Costa Rica. Therefore, the newspaper does not accept liability for reader's opinion letter content. |
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U.S.
Coastguard captured the Costa Rican
narco boat Moby Dick |
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By A.M. Costa
Rica staff
The Security Ministry confirmed that " thanks to the collaboration of the United States Coast Guard," it was possible to capture the crew of the ship identified as Moby Dick in which 444 packages of cocaine were transported. A ministry representative said "the operation was part of the joint patrol agreement between the United States Government and that of Costa Rica, and had the participation of the US Coast Guard and officers from the National Coast Guard Service and the Drug Control Police." The ship was intercepted by the US Coast Guard in South Pacific waters, 100 miles southwest of Mata Palo on October 15, said the police report. The vessel appeared at first to be carrying out fishing operations, but officers of the Coast Guard were suspicious and stopped the boat thinking it might be carrying a shipment of cocaine. The boat, ‘Moby Dick’ is owned by a Costa Rican surnamed Araya, reported the ministry. The Coast Guard vessel escorted the Moby Dick to the Golfito Pier in Puntarenas, the crew of four Costa Ricans was detained, and the drugs were confiscated. The four men suspected of drug trafficking were identified by their the surnames: Obando, 32, has a criminal record for the crime of sexual abuse against adults, Beita, 24, Castrillo, 45 and Reyes, 36. The last three men had no criminal record before this arrest. |
 A.M.
Costa Rica wire
services photo
The
ship Moby Dick in
which 444 packages
of cocaine were transported. According to the police report, the four suspects were sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office so that their legal status can be determined. According to the Public Ministry, a sentence for drug trafficking could begin with 8 years in prison. |
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Dear readers: We know this may be
frustrating, but the new dedicated server is
necessary to cover the large number of readers we
have world wide as they read the news
simultaneously. A.M. Costa Rica staff
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