AMCostaRica©
| ARCHIVE | Published Tuesday, November 6, 2018 |
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Canadian citizen sent to prison for trafficking heroin in his body |
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 By A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Drugs Control Police confirmed that a Canadian citizen, surnamed Clint, aged 26, was captured for trying to leave the country with 62 heroin ovules in his body. The suspect was captured at the Juan Santamaria Airport when he was trying to board a plane for Calgary, Canada. When he went through the scanner, terminal officials could see the heroin packets in his intestines. He was sent to a clinic for a complete examination which determined that there were packets of heroin with a total weight of 470 grams in his body. The suspect was captured on Thursday of last week and was transferred to a medical center for the expulsion of the ovules. The suspect remained in the hospital until Sunday when the process was complete. The police seized the drugs plus $4,208. On Monday, the Alajuela prosecutor confirmed that Clint will be in preventive detention, while he is being investigated for the crime of international drug trafficking.
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Drugs
Control Police
courtesy photo
Heroin a total weight of 470 grams in suspect body. According to the Institute Against Drugs, jail sentences vary from 8 to 15 years for international drug trafficking The case remains under investigation. |
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Municipality of Limon is a disaster said Comptroller |
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By A.M. Costa Rica
staff
The Development Area of the General Comptroller's Office evaluated the purchasing procedure in the Limon Municipality. Qualifying as a "disaster" the way in which the municipality performs budget management and the purchasing system. According to the Comptroller's Office, "this municipality was allocated a significant amount of public resources that for the period between 2016 and 2017 - more than $5.6 million." The money was to be used for 173 suppliers. An example of poor management of resources, according to the Comptroller's Office was a case, where more than $2.1 million was spent. This amount is equivalent to 38 percent of the budget in the years 2016 and 2017. These were the main findings: - The indispensable steps in the selection of offers were omitted. - The requirements in offers submitted by suppliers were not complete. - Contracts were accepted in favor of suppliers that did not meet the requirements. According to the investigation, there are at least 27 administrative contracting procedures that lack the minimum requirements to comply with the law. Among the main anomalies were: non-compliance with the requirements to win the contracts, lack of quality controls, omission of information about the cost of the goods or services, omission of the person responsible for the contract, breaches of contract schedules, and other errors. Vivian Garbanzo, manager of the Development Area of the Comptroller's Office, confirmed the lack of minimum fulfillment in the contracts. "We analyzed procedures that lacked support on the verification of admissibility requirements, bid evaluation reports to ensure that the bid selected was the most convenient for the public interest, and the minutes of opening of bids in the bidding procedures are not included, direct contracting, 17 cases were also identified in which the act of awarding to bidders is carried out without these meeting the requirements established in the bill." The final report published a long list of errors, omissions, and negligence on the part of the contracting department of the municipality. The report stated that not all materials purchased were delivered, warehouse operations did not have appropriate procedures or controls to determine the amount and cost of goods, and that there were other irregularities. The Comptroller's Office initiated an investigation to determine those responsible for this management. He also ordered the mayor, Néstor Mattis, to elaborate and implement a regulation for the acquisition and reception of goods and services in accordance with the law on administrative contracting. In September, the Deputy Prosecutor's Office of Limón opened an investigation against the mayor Mattis Williams, for alleged anomalies in the contracts for the construction of the sidewalks and the municipal market of that city. |
 Limon Municipality courtesy photo In
September, the Deputy
Prosecutor's Office of
Limón opened an
investigation against
the mayor Mattis
Williams.
At that time, Fiscal Police made three raids in Limón, one at the Limón municipality, one at the home of Limón Mayor Nestor Matis and the last at the home of a municipal engineer, whose name was not disclosed in the police report. The objective of those raids was the seizure of evidence linked to two investigations that were being carried out, both related to work contracted by the major, said investigators. The first is related to a contract to the company to rebuild part of the Limón market and add an extension, the judiciary said. The report of the investigators states that, "the new works were made but there were no divisions, and the reconstruction was not carried out." It adds that the work was not completed, the contractor was paid $4.5 million and the guarantee was canceled. The second case investigated has to do with an agreement to build sidewalks in the center of Limón. "The amount awarded for that work was $709,000, but it was expanded by $208,000 more, after an addendum to the contract so that the sidewalks were made with paving stones and not with cement," clarified the report. The municipality imposed a tax on people living in downtown Limón for the construction of sidewalks. This tax was created in a dubious manner, and the management of the funds raised is now also under investigation, said the judiciary. The report concluded by stating that the police collected computer evidence for the case and that detectives of Judicial Investigating Organization confiscated other types of evidence. That case is under investigation. |
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Fourth news page |
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China donated more than $5.5 million to police |
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By
A.M. Costa Rica staff
Security Minister, Michael Soto, who is on a work tour in China, confirmed the donation of more than $5.5 million made by the government of China. According to the Ministry, the costs of this work tour were also covered by the Chinese government. After Minister Soto met with his counterpart, Minister Xu Qiliana, it was confirmed that "the donation will be invested in telecommunications equipment and police protection equipment.” Minister Soto also presented a portfolio of projects for which the government is seeking funding from the Chinese government. "We have focused on optimizing resources, but we are aware that this must go hand in hand with more and better working conditions and tools for the police. With this donation from the Chinese government, strategic partner since 2007, we take a very important step in this direction," said Minister Soto. A technical delegation from the Chinese government will arrive in the country in early December of this year to carry out the necessary technical studies and hold meetings with specialized personnel from the Ministry in order to define the equipment and the conditions required by the country. As part of his agenda, the minister will give a speech within the framework of the China - Latin America Defense Forum on the peace culture of Costa Rica, the Arms Trade Treaty promoted by the country and relations with China.
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 Security Ministry courtesy
photo
Security Minister Michael Soto shook hands with Chinese Minister Xu Qiliana. These seek to strengthen and consolidate international rapport in the second decade of bilateral relations. The Minister will visit Chinese corporations in charge of safety equipment and state-of-the-art technology to review firsthand the equipment from China. This donation is in addition to other recent donations from the government of China such as the construction of the National Police Academy, two Harvin Y12 E aircraft, medical equipment, and training scholarships for police officers.
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U.S. Tax
International
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Migrant caravan sets sights on Mexico City |
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By A.M. Costa Rica staff
According to Voice of America, thousands of bone-tired Central Americans set their sights on Mexico City on Sunday after undertaking a grueling journey through a part of Mexico that has been particularly treacherous for migrants seeking to get to the United States. An estimated 4,000 migrants are in the gulf state of Veracruz, where hundreds of migrants have disappeared in recent years, falling prey to kidnappers looking for ransom payments. The day’s 124-mile trek was one of the longest yet, as the exhausted migrants tried to make progress walking and hitching rides toward the U.S. border still hundreds of miles away. The migrants now aim to regroup in the Mexican capital, seeking medical care and rest while they await stragglers. The caravan has found strength in numbers as it meanders north, with townspeople pouring out to offer food, water, fresh clothes and replacement footwear. On Sunday, the bulk of the caravan streamed into the colonial city of Cordoba, in Veracruz’s sugar belt, where they were greeted with Caribbean music and dance. Meanwhile, bleary eyed migrants who had charged ahead to Mexico City expressed gratitude for the support of their fellow travelers, saying they would not have had the strength or courage to get so far on their own. A few arrived at a large outdoor stadium in the capital, where they lounged on bleachers and watched Mexicans play soccer. City employees piled hot food onto Styrofoam plates for the migrants, some of whom had hopped freight trucks to speed their arrival to the capital. Others rested inside a church in the city of Puebla. It is unclear what part of the U.S. border the caravan will aim for eventually, or how many may splinter off on their own. Most of the migrants said they remain convinced that traveling as a large mass is their best hope for reaching the U.S. The migrants generally say they are fleeing rampant poverty, gang violence and political instability primarily in the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. “We think that it is better to continue together with the caravan. We are going to stay with it and respect the organizers,” said Luis Euseda, a 32-year-old from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, traveling with his wife, Jessica Fugon. “Others went ahead, maybe they have no goal, but we do have a goal and it is to arrive.” Mynor Chavez, a 19-year-old from Copan, Honduras, was also determined to continue. “I have no prospects (in Honduras). I graduated as a computer technician and not even with a degree have I been able to find work,” he said of his home country. Manuel Calderon, 43, a migrant from El Salvador, lifted his shirt to show scars from two bullets he said pierced his torso in his home country. He dreams of making it back to the U.S., from which he was deported a little more than two years ago. On the road, Calderon was received by ordinary Mexicans lending a hand. |
 A.M.
Costa Rica
wire services
photo
It is unclear what part of the U.S. border the caravan will aim for eventually, or how many may splinter off on their own. Catalina Munoz said she bought tortillas on credit to assemble tacos of beans, cheese and rice when she heard the migrant caravan would pass through her tiny town of 3,000 inhabitants. She gathered 15 others to help make the tacos, fill water bottles and carry fruit to weary travelers on the roadside. Mexico faces the unprecedented situation of having three migrant caravans stretched over 300 miles (500 kilometers) of highway in the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz. On Friday, a caravan from El Salvador waded over the Suchiate River into Mexico, bringing around 1,000 people who want to reach the U.S. border. That caravan initially tried to cross the bridge between Guatemala and Mexico, but Mexican authorities told them they would have to show passports and visas and enter in groups of 50 for processing. Another caravan, also of about 1,000 people, entered Mexico early last week. That group includes Hondurans, Salvadorans and some Guatemalans. The first, and largest, group of mainly Honduran migrants entered Mexico on Oct. 19. Mexican officials have appeared conflicted over whether to help or hinder their journey. Mexico’s Interior Ministry estimated Saturday that there are more than 5,000 migrants in total currently moving through southern Mexico via caravans or in smaller groups. The ministry says 2,793 migrants have pursued refugee status in Mexico in recent weeks and around 500 have asked for assistance to return to their countries of origin. Uncertainty awaits migrants who reach the U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered U.S. troops to the Mexican border in response to the caravans. More than 7,000 active duty troops have been told to deploy to Texas, Arizona and California ahead of the midterm elections. He plans to sign an order that could lead to the large-scale detention of migrants crossing the southern border and bar anyone caught crossing illegally from claiming asylum. |
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Coastguard saved turtles trapped at Flamingo beach |
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By A.M. Costa
Rica staff
Officers of the National Coast Guard Service found two turtles trapped with fishing lines in their beaks. These illegal fishing devices were placed inside the protected area of Santa Rosa National Park. According to the rangers report, "the turtles were trapped by the fishing lines in the area of Flamingo beach, in Guanacaste. The officials patrolled by sea from the northern sector of Flamingo beach to the Santa Rosa National Park, to detect possible illegal fishing and other crimes in the area." The fishing line was found “within the maritime part of the national park" said the Coast Guard. Fishing lines for turtles are traps placed in strategic areas. They consist of putting a lump of tallow on a line or hook. When the turtle bites the tallow, he is unable to break free. According to the police report, in addition to the two turtles, "he had trapped Dorado fish.” In Costa Rica, the turtle is an endangered species and some sites of Santa Rosa National Park are recognized destinations used by the nesting animals. According to the Association of Tourism Operators, all sea turtles are listed on the Red List of Endangered Species of The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). |
 National Coast
Guard courtesy photo
Hunting sea turtles is prohibited internationally as a measure of protection for their populations. The trade in
sea turtles, as well as
their parts is
prohibited
internationally as a
measure of protection
for their populations.
In Costa Rica five of the seven species of sea turtles have been found: Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). According to the police report, no suspect was caught for setting traps to catch the turtles. |
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Letter to Readers: People still read newspapers in U.S. |
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Dear A.M. Costa Rica Readers: According to a recent online article in Editor & Publisher, a Nielsen Scarborough study suggested “that in an average month, 169 million adults read a U.S. newspaper. They may be reading it in one or more iterations—in print, on the web, via a mobile app, courtesy of an e-newsletter or through a social media news feed.” Some 58 percent of people ages 16 and older reported they regularly read newspapers. There are not noteworthy differences across communities in the numbers of people who regularly read newspapers. But 57 percent of suburban residents and 56 percent of urban dwellers are more likely to read their newspapers on handheld devices than 45 percent of rural residents, according to a 2018 article by the Pew Research Center. “Print isn’t going away. If you are from Cleveland, then you were probably one of the thousands who wanted a print copy of the Plain Dealer that was released the day after the Cavaliers won the NBA Championship…So why in the digital era would people from all over want the print version? Nostalgia. The print newspaper is memorabilia people can keep forever,” said the Center. “A newspaper is the center of a community, it's one of the tent poles of the community, and that's not going to be replaced by Web sites and blogs,” declared Michael Connelly. And I agree.
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 A.M.
Costa Rica wire services photo
Whatever country you reside in, the newspaper is a vital source of information. News and opinions circle the globe via newspapers. Stand up for the free press. It’s that important. Melissa Martin, Ohio, U.S. 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. |
