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Published Friday, February 26, 2021
U.S. Coast Guard aids
in halting drug trafficking
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The United States Coast Guard collaborated with police officers from Quepos station, in Puntarenas Province in an operation to arrest three suspects of drug trafficking and seize a cargo of marijuana.
According to the police report, the U.S. Coast Guard detected several bags disseminated in a wooded area in Portalón District, in Quepos Canton.
Guided to the location of the unusual cargo, the police officers managed to find 13 large bags containing several packages of marijuana. In addition, 22 liters of gasoline containers and electronic navigation devices were found, the police said.
In a more detailed review of the cargo, expert officials from the Drug Control Police determined that it was a total of 390 kilograms of marijuana.
At the scene, the officers managed to arrest three men suspected of having left drugs in the wooded area.
The first detainee is a Costa Rican surnamed Granados, 33, who has a criminal record for an infraction of the Weapons Law, drug transport, infraction of the Wild Fauna Law, infraction of the Hunting Law and illegal possession of weapons, the police said.
The second detainee is another Costa Rican, surnamed Mora, 20, with a criminal record of robbery, attempted homicide, violation of the Psychotropic Law, according to the police.
A third detainee is a man of Venezuelan nationality, surnamed Graterol, 27, who has no records of having entered Costa Rica, so the police presumed that he entered the country unlawfully.
In addition to the three arrests, police seized different cargos of marijuana, gasoline, and devices as evidence in the case.
The three men were taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where they must wait until a judge orders the pre-trial measures against them for suspicion of international drug trafficking.
The agents of the Judicial Investigation Organization, asks for people to report those suspected of drug trafficking to the confidential line 800-8000-645, where bilingual agents can answer calls in the English or Spanish language.
Cooperation between the United States and Costa Rica in the fight against international drug trafficking allows the Ministry of Security to receive donations of equipment.
The most recent donation from the United States happened last week when they delivered boats, construction for training and maintenance facilities as part of an investment valued at nearly $4 million.
The donation of two new Tampa Yacht Tempest 44-FCI interceptor boats and two vessels from Colombian shipbuilder Eduardoño, which were repaired, all worth $2.3 million.
The Tempest 44-FCIs are equipped with three outboard motors and feature modern communication equipment.
In addition, there were repairs of two of the four Eduardoño vessels that were acquired by the National Coast Guard Service in 2010 and the remaining ones will be renewed in the coming months.
The U.S. will also provide the Costa Rican Coast Guard with a new training center in Caldera Port, in Puntarenas Province.
The Costa Rican authorities and representatives of the Embassy laid the first stone for the facilities to symbolically begin construction, which will officially start in the second half of the year.
The $1.5 million project will be built in an area of 7,000 square meters. The location will include a maintenance hangar, boat repairs, and twelve classrooms for officer training.
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How else could both countries partner up to stop drug trafficking in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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