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 Published Monday, June 8, 2020
money laundering and illegal
drug possession
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
As part of the so-called patrolling police operations taking place across the country, a U.S. citizen man surname Smith was detained on suspicions of money laundering and illegal drug possession.
According to the police report, during a routine patrol in the area of Ciudadela 25 de Julio in the Hatillo District in San José Province, a taxi in which the foreigner was traveling was detained.
"The man in the presence of the police was very nervous," said the police. That was a red flag for the officers who decided to review the taxi and the backpack the foreigner was carrying.
In his belongings, the police found ¢16,000 in cash. When asked about the origin of the money, the foreigner "could not explain to the authorities present the origin of the money," said the police in its report.
According to the police, in the foreigner’s backpack authorities found illegal substances, marijuana and cocaine.
The man was taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where he was interrogated by the judicial agents, where he must now wait until a judge orders the pre-trial measures against him.
The second most recent case of a U.S. citizen jailed for carrying drugs happened in March, when police from the Tobías Bolaños International
Airport in Pavas, San José Province, arrested a man for the alleged crime of drug trafficking.
According to the police report, the foreigner was detained at the baggage checkpoint after it was detected that in his carry-on baggage were ten jelly or gummy candies containing marijuana.
The foreigner's name was not disclosed by the police, however, it was confirmed that he intended to take a local flight to La Managua local airport in Quepos Beach in Puntarenas Province.
The man was taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where he was interrogated by the judicial agents and after that, a judge ordered three months of pre-trial jail against him.
Another case of foreigners jailed for alleged drug traffic also happened in March, when the criminal court judge ordered three pre-trial months in prison for three foreigners during an investigation against them on suspicion of international drug trafficking.
According to the Prosecutor's report, the three foreigners allegedly intended to take advantage of the rescue flight provided by the governments of Germany and Switzerland made available to their citizens and residents so that they could return to Europe.
First, a Swiss citizen woman surnamed Sportiello had planned to travel to her country on that rescue flight that was ready to depart from the Juan Santamaría International
Airport in Alajuela Province.
The woman delivered her luggage at the immigration for a routine check, the officers of the Drug Control Police found seven packages hidden inside her luggage, according to the case report. A lab test confirmed that the cargo was eight kilos of cocaine, said the Prosecutor in their statement.
Then, a few hours after the first woman was arrested a German citizen couple surnamed Camill-Heim (the man) and Messer (the woman) arrived at the airport to travel in the same rescue flight to return to their countries.
When the couple delivered their luggage at the immigration checkpoint, a drug cargo was also found hidden in their suitcases. Lab tests confirmed 13 kilos of cocaine in their cargo, said the Prosecutor in its statement.
The three foreigners were taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where they were interrogated by judicial agents and the judge ordered pre-trial jail against them.
Another similar case happened in February, when the Drug Control Police detained two foreign men at the baggage checkpoint of the
Daniel Oduber International
Airport in Guanacaste Province, with a cargo of marijuana chocolate.
According to the police report, the first man arrested was a U.S. citizen surnamed Sayela-Wala, 31. The second man arrested was a Canadian, surnamed Cameron-Paterson, 49.
Both foreigners were arrested at the time when their luggage was inspected at the airport checkpoint, where 1,087 units of chocolate bars plus nine pieces of chocolate containing marijuana were found by police.
The cargo weighed a total of 83 kilos of chocolate including the marijuana chocolate, according to the police report.
Data provided by the police revealed that both men entered the country by land on Feb. 14, via
Peñas Blancas
port of entrance on the northern border with Nicaragua.
At the time of the arrests, both men intended to leave the country through the airport to Amsterdam in Holland, making a stopover in the U.S., said the police.
"The suspects were carrying seven suitcases as luggage within which police officers detected a large number of chocolates that were mixed with apparent marijuana," said the police in their statement.
In addition to the confiscation of cargo, the police seized $1,808 in cash.
The two men were taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where they were interrogated by the judicial agents and a judge ordered pre-trial jail against them.
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What expat or tourist you know has been jailed in Costa Rica for drug trafficking? We would like to know your
thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
