U.S. Coast Guard helps in the arrest of drug trafficking suspects in Costa Rica 092121

- Photo via U.S. Coast Guard -

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Published on Tuesday, September 21, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

The U.S. Coast Guard aided in another anti-drug operation in Costa Rica. The collaboration had three men arrested as drug trafficking suspects and they seized 192 kilos of cocaine.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, the case began when the U. S. Coast Guard was doing a routine flight over the South Pacific Coast and detected a speedboat crossing the maritime zone of Costa Rica near Quepos Beach in Puntarenas Province.

The officers alerted the Costa Rican National Coast Guard of the Quepos Beach station, who managed to intercept the boat at 85 nautical miles from the coast.

The boat, 36 feet long with two 75 HP engines, was identified with the "Valentina" Ecuadorian flag plate. The crew had two Ecuadorans surnamed Ortiz and Quijije and a Colombian surnamed Minotta.

In an initial inspection, officers found several large bags containing smaller black plastic packages. Suspecting a case of drug trafficking, the crew was arrested and the boat was towed to the coast guard station in Quepos.

At the Coast Guard station, specialists from the Drug Control Police inspected the cargo. They reported a total of 192 packages of cocaine, each weighing approximately one kilogram.

The drug, the boat, 24 containers with fuel, two engines of 75 HP each, electronic navigation equipment and $35 in cash, were seized as part of the evidence in the case.

The suspects were taken to the Puntarens Prosecutor's Office, where they must wait for a judge to order the pre-trial prison accused of the alleged crime of international drug trafficking.

According to Luis Carlos Castillo, Vice Minister of Security, this type of anti-drug operation is successful thanks to the continuous collaboration of the United States government.

A short video of the anti drug operation was shared by the Ministry and can be seen on the A.M. Costa Rica YouTube channel.

Authorities call for people to report any suspicion of drug sales or trafficking to the confidential line 800-8000-645 or 11-76, where bilingual agents can answer calls in English or Spanish.

That is one of several anti-drug operations supported by the U.S. Coast Guard in Costa Rica. Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard aided in two of three recent anti-drug operations.

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What else could the authorities do to end drug trafficking? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com