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Published Friday, April 17, 2020
Second time this
month, U.S. Coast Guard arrest Costa Ricans linked
to drug cargoFor the second time this month, the U.S. Coast Guard, as part of its patrol operations in the Pacific Ocean, detained four Costa Ricans for the alleged crime of shipping an illegal drug cargo. The work of the U.S. Coast Guard is part of a joint patrol between Costa Rica and the United States. According to the report of the Ministry of Security issued on Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard saw a boat named Doña Marina donned with a Costa Rican flag, sailing on the Pacific Ocean 97 nautical miles from Mata Palo Beach in Puntarenas Province. In a routine inspection, the U.S. Coast Guard detected an apparent load of marijuana inside the boat, so they proceeded with the arrest of the four crew members. According to the Ministry, this capture occurred on Sunday, April 12, when the U.S. Coastguards took the suspects and towed the boat to Mata Palo Beach. Upon arrival the U.S. authorities handed over the detainees and boat to the police of the National Coast Guard Service and the Drug Control Police. Drug Control Police officers inspected the ship where 23 packages of marijuana, approximately one kilogram each, were found. The police identified the suspects as Umaña - Villegas, 32, with criminal record background, Carmona - Marchena, 54, Morales-Rosales, 38, and Murillo - Pérez, 24. The last three without criminal records. The Drug Control Police seized the boat and marijuana as part of the evidence of the case. Furthermore, the four suspects were taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where they were interrogated by the judicial agents and after that, a judge ordered three months of pre-trial prison against them.  A similar case happened on April 7, when the U.S. Coast Guard detained four Costa Ricans for the alleged crime of shipping cocaine cargo. The U.S. Coast Guard officials intercepted the Costa Rican registered boat named Amanda, 87 nautical miles west of Golfito Port in Puntarenas Province, reported the authorities. After proceeding with the ship's interception, U.S. officials found 771 packages of cocaine cargo hidden inside the ship, each pack weighing approximately one kilogram. Therefore, the U.S. Coast Guard informed the Costa Rican authorities to coordinate the process of transferring the drugs and the detained suspects. According to the police report, only one of the four detained had a criminal record. The man surnamed Walsh Marroquin, 40, was previously arrested for breaking the Psychotropic Law. The rest had not been previously arrested: a man surnamed Castillo - Gamboa, 29 years old, a man surnamed Calvo - Gómez, 22 years old, and a man surnamed Chavarría - Mendoza, 65 years old. Last Friday, police from the National Coast Guard Service and the Drug Control Police sailed 27 nautical miles off the coast of Puntarenas to receive the four suspects and the intercepted boat. The Costa Rican authorities proceeded with the seizure of the drugs and the transfer of the suspects to the cells in the Public Ministry. A Puntarenas criminal court judge ordered four months of pre-trial prison against them.  The leader of the U.S. Southern Command plans a bilingual telephone interview today with Costa Rican news professionals to explain the beefed up U.S. military presence in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean. The man is Admiral Craig S. Faller, who has headed the U.S. operations in this area since Nov. 26, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump announced April 1 that his country would increase anti-drug operations in the region. The U.S Southern Command said that the effort would include more U.S. Navy destroyers and littoral combat ships, more U.S. Coast Guard cutters, more helicopters, Customs and Border Protection maritime patrol aircraft, and Navy P-8 and U.S. Air Force surveillance aircraft. The command, based in Florida, was not specific about numbers. It did say that the new additions would double capabilities. It also said that 22 nations, including Costa Rica, are supporting the enhanced operation. In fact, it named Costa Rica as one of a handful of key national partners. Faller's telephone interview appears to be a public relations initiative to gain public support for the enhanced anti-drug activities. --------------------- Should the U.S. Coast Guard increase its presence in Latin American countries' territorial sea to fight against drug trafficking? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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