  In those places agents also seized $134,393 in cash, ten vehicles, explosives, gold, drugs, firearms and important documentation for the investigation.- Judicial Investigation Organization courtesy photo - |
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 Published Friday, August 21, 2020 26
people arrested suspected of
illegally exporting $60 million in gold to the U.S. and Nicaragua By the A.M. Costa Rica staff A group of 26 people, including Costa Ricans and foreigners, were arrested on Thursday, on suspicion of extracting gold illegally and sending shipments to the United States, the Prosecutor Office of Legitimation of Capitals said on Thursday. According to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ), between 2018 and 2020, the suspects exported approximately 2,500 kilos of gold valued at $60 million to the United States. However, that amount was calculated based on the values reported in the export customs documents. The prosecutor is currently in the process of estimating the real amount paid by gold buyers. According to the prosecutor, the allegedly illegal miners extracted gold from unauthorized mines that were open in the areas of Crucitas in Alajuela Province, Abangares in Guanacaste Province, and Corcovado National Park in Puntarenas Province. The valuable mineral extracted was then handed over to people who were engaged in gold processing in clandestine places in Guanacaste Province. There, the gold was turned into bullion, said the prosecutor's report. Then the gold was exported to the United States, other shipments were illegally transferred to Nicaragua. On Thursday, the judicial agents made 32 raids at the homes and workplaces of the suspects, such as farms, companies, places where gold was extracted, and places where the material was processed. The raids were carried out in San Isidro, Santo Domingo, Guararí, Montelimar, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Escazú, San Sebastián, Barrio Escalante, Pocosol, Coopevega, San Ramón, Abangares and Puerto Jiménez, said the prosecutor's report. Judicial agents arrested 26 people, 21 men and 5 women as suspects of committing the crimes of illegal mining, environmental and money laundering. In those places agents also seized $134,393 in cash, ten vehicles, explosives, gold, drugs, firearms and important documentation for the investigation. According to the prosecutor, the roles identified to the suspect's range from managing farms in Crucitas, obtaining the gold in the form of sediments, processing the gold, selling or storing gold in houses, making accounting and financial reports, among many others. A group of suspects was in charge of financing the purchases of that material in exchange for some patrimonial benefit and provided false evidence as cattle sales. Another group of suspects was in charge of justifying in the banks the amounts of money they received as a result of money laundering. Another group of suspects was in charge of processing gold and exporting the mineral through companies exporting directly from the Juan Santamaría International Airport. The export was made under the false justification that it was scrap gold, the prosecutor said. Due to the closure of borders at the Juan Santamaría International Airport, as one of the measures to mitigate the pandemic, the suspects used other companies dedicated to the transport of merchandise abroad, to ensure the continuity of the export of gold and money laundering, said the prosecutor. According to the investigation, another group of suspects gave financial and accounting advice. They used false invoices to give a legal appearance of the money obtained with the export of the gold. An employee of the Ministry of Finance, is one of the suspects, who is allegedly in charge of advising other suspects of how to hide the illegal business. Among other discoveries by investigators, they found that the chemical substances used for extracting the gold, such as mercury and cyanide, were sent to the Crucitas area from San José, by another group of suspects. According to the prosecutor, not all the suspects will be in pre-trial jail because their participation in the crimes are less serious, and they have conditions that indicate that they will remain as accused. It is expected that the Public Ministry will carry out an analysis of one of the suspects, to determine the pre-trial measures in each case. -------------------------- What should the authorities do to prevent the increase in illegal gold mining in protected areas? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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