-Published: Wednesday, October 16, 2019-
82 suspects of human trafficking arrested this year, say police
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Border Police of the Ministry of Public Security reports having arrested from January to September 82 suspected of traffickers of persons in the areas of Los Chiles in the Province of Alajuela, and La Cruz in the Province of Guanacaste.
According to official reports, among the detainees are both Nicaraguans and Costa Ricans.
Officers arrested the individuals while they were transporting foreigners who had entered the country illegally. Traffickers usually charge between 3,000 and 5,000 colones for transport services.
According to the police report, in the province of Guanacaste, 25 alleged traffickers have been arrested. While in the Los Chiles district officials have arrested 57 suspected traffickers.
The most recent case occurred over the weekend when officers arrested a man surnamed Castillo in the Peñas Blancas area.
The suspect was in the company of several foreigners who had entered the country illegally, police said. The suspect had charged 5,000 colones to each person to help them outwit the staff at the immigration post there, said police in a report.
The suspect and the alleged illegal immigrants were taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where they were interrogated by the judicial agents. Then they were awaiting until a judge considers pre-trial measures against the suspect and deportation orders against the foreigners.
Another recent case was reported on A.M. Costa Rica on October 7, when Border Police officers arrested three suspected of immigrant traffickers, at Los Chiles .
According to the police report, the first arrest was recorded near the border with Nicaragua in a place known as El Cebichito.
There, officers reported having
intercepted a driver, a Nicaraguan man surnamed Ríos, who was
transporting three other men, also of Nicaraguan nationality, who had
allegedly entered the country illegally.
"Apparently, each one of
the foreigners paid five thousand colones to be taken to the Central
Park of the city of Los Chiles," said the police in its report.
The
second case reported by the police also happened in Los Chiles, this
time in the community of Las Tablillas. In a way similar first incident,
another driver, a Costa Rican man surnamed Ortega, was arrested
transporting seven people, all Nicaraguans, who allegedly entered the
country illegally.
"The suspect allegedly charged three thousand
colones to each of the foreigners to take them to a safe place and thus
circumvent the immigration controls," said the police in its report.
Ortega, the driver, was also cited for reckless driving because he was drunk at the time of his arrest, said police.
In
addition to the driver Ortega, officials reported that they arrested an
alleged accomplice, surnamed Lopez, who was apparently in charge of
contacting and collecting the entrance fee to Nicaraguans undocumented
immigrants, said the police in its report.
The three men, Ríos,
Ortega, and Lopez, were taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where
they were interrogated by the judicial agents.
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What is the penalty in your country, to a person who is found guilty of entering foreigners illegally? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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