Three drug trafficking suspects jailed

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Drug Control Police officers of the Ministry of Public Security detained Tuesday, three men as alleged members of a drug trafficking gang.

The arrests were the result of three raids in the community of Cocori* in the province of Cartago.

One detainees was a man surnamed Orozco-Pérez, 31, "who has a criminal record for damages, resistance to authority, aggravated robbery, drug transportation and attempted homicide," said the police in its report.

The two other suspects were, a man surnamed Muñoz-Nuñez, 20, and another surnamed Miranda-Porras, 39. Both without a criminal record, said the police.

That same day of the arrest, the judge of the Public Ministry ordered six months of pre-trial detention for the three suspects.

According to the police report, alleged gang members were selling drugs, "among them turquoise-colored crack."

"The three suspects sold turquoise crack to differentiate the product. They also sold marijuana and cocaine," said the police in its report.

The case began when the police received 31 complaints on the confidential line 1-1-7-6, about the drug sales suspects activities, they said.

"According to the investigation, drug sales were 25 meters from a Center for Education and Nutrition, as well as near the Children's Center for Nutrition and Comprehensive Care," said the police in its report.

In addition to the arrests, 2,605 doses of drugs were seized, of which 1,401 were crack, 1,181 marijuana and 23 cocaine. Police said. In addition to the drug, the police seized more than $1,600 in cash, a firearm, a handmade weapon, four projectiles and a vehicle. All those as evidence of the case against the suspects.

The officials call on people, to report any suspicion of drug sales in their community, to the confidential and free line number 1-1-7-6. Where there are bilinguals agents who can answer calls in English or Spanish.

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