The Prosecutor's office of La Unión* in Tres Ríos confirmed that a public ministry judge delivered a sentence of six months pre-trial prison for two U.S. citizens surnamed Owen-Strauss, male, 69 years old, and Redondo-Ramos female, 59 years old, the latter with dual Cuba/U.S. citizenship.   They are suspected of being part of a gang dedicated to cultivating and marketing marijuana.

The investigation reported that four more people were arrested last week as part of the gang and were also sentenced to six month pre-trial prison. Their surnames are: Cortés-Amador, Bermúdez-Molina, Bastos-Herrera, and Pizarro-Cartín.

Police seized 639 grams of marijuana, marijuana cocoons, seeds and 318 marijuana plants during the raids. They also confiscated a motorcycle, a car, a 9-millimenter pistol, two assault rifles and ammunition.

Agents report that this investigation began in April, 2018 when the police received confidential information about the suspects who were renting houses where they grew hydroponic marijuana in controlled environments.

Based on that complaint, the agents conducted an investigation that resulted in raids that were made simultaneously in a warehouse in La Unión* in Tres Rios and five houses located in the provinces of Cartago*, Heredia* and San José*.

Prosecutor's agents said, "it is believed that they extracted the oil and wax from the plants, as those products have a higher concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis) compared to chopped marijuana, then, apparently, they sold the derivatives in ampoules or cartridges, with prices ranging between ₵60,000 ($98.52) and ₵100,000 ($164)."

One of the Costa Rican detainees, Cortés-Amador, is the son of Guiselle Amador, who was the Minister of Health last year.

Information provided by the Presidential House confirmed that President Alvarado was informed last year that investigation was starting and that it involved Minister Amador's son.