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 The United States and Colombian coast guards recently supported two anti-drug operations in Costa Rica where 3.4 tons of cocaine were seized. - Ministry of Security photo - |
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Published on Monday, August 23, 2021
The United States and Colombian coast guards recently supported two anti-drug operations in Costa Rica where 3.4 tons of cocaine were seized, according to the Ministry of Security. The first operation was carried out in the maritime territory of Costa Rica on the Caribbean Coast, specifically 10 nautical miles away from Limón Beach in Limón Province. With the help of coordinates provided by Colombian authorities, officials from the National Coast Guard Service managed to intercept a speedboat that had activated the alert for possible drug trafficking. The alert was given when an unidentifiable boat was crossing the sea at high speed. Authorities released three 300 horsepower engines to identify the nameless vessel, which did not have a license plate or flag of its country of origin, police said. When the boat was intercepted by the Costa Rican officers, there was a crew with four men, all of Colombian nationality. In a first inspection, the officers detected cargo of several sacks with packages inside. Following the guideline in cases of suspected drug trafficking, the four men crew identified as Hooker-Cabeza, 35, Hawkins-Henry, 44, Peña-Archbold, 39 and Howard-Bernard, 42, were arrested and the boat was towed to the Coast Guard Station in Portete Port.  At the station, Drug Control Police officers conducted a more detailed inspection of the shipment, finding 1,910 packages of cocaine, each one weighing approximately one kilogram. In addition to the drugs, the police seized for evidence the speedboat, $285 in cash, electronic equipment, and 18 large containers of fuel. The suspects were taken to the jail of the Public Ministry where they were interrogated by agents of the Judicial Investigation Organization. And are waiting for a judge to order pre-trial measures against them for the charge of drug trafficking. In the second case, a United States Coast Guard ship intercepted a boat while crossing the Pacific Ocean. That boat had a Costa Rican license plate: "La Píldora." Authorities found the boat to have a crew made up of four Costa Ricans. In an initial inspection of the boat by U.S. officials, cargo was found inside a compartment at the bottom of the ship. This is a compartment where fuel tanks are usually held, police said in its report. Suspecting a drug trafficking case, the Coast Guard arrested the four men and seized the ship. They took the suspects and towed the boat to the Golfito Port dock on the Pacific Coast.  In a more detailed review of the cargo by Costa Rican Drug Control Police, it was determined that it was 1,549 packages of cocaine, each weighing approximately one kilogram of said drug. The drug and the ship were seized as part of the evidence in the case. And following the process in these cases, the drug trafficking Costa Rican suspects men, identified as López Salazar, 49, Chavarría-Pérez, 50, Mendoza-Alfaro, 41 and Gómez Morales, 33, were taken to the jail of the Public Ministry. A video of the anti-drug operations was released by the Ministry of Security and can be seen on the AM Costa Rica YouTube channel.  The U.S. Coast Guard aiding on anti-drug operations in Costa Rica happens often. Recently, the U.S. Coast Guard detected 900 packages of cocaine floating about 37 kilometers offshore from Llorona Beach in Puntarenas Province. Authorities call for people to report any suspicion of drug sales or trafficking to the confidential line 800-8000-645 or 11-76, where there are bilingual agents who can answer calls in English or Spanish. ------------------------ What else could the authorities do to stop drug trafficking in the country? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com  Real Estate For Sale
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