A British male identified by the surname Wong was arrested on money laundering charges at the Peñas Blancas Migration Station in La Cruz canton, Guanacaste province, authorities said.

According to the Ministry of Public Security (MSP), the arrest occurred Thursday when Wong attempted to cross the northern border into Nicaragua.

Wong was traveling in a vehicle with three other individuals: two Costa Ricans, both with the surname Wu (a man and a woman), and a Malaysian man identified as Jun.

As part of a routine border control operation, officers stopped the vehicle at the Peñas Blancas immigration checkpoint to inspect its passengers and their belongings.

During the search, authorities found several packages containing undeclared cash in Wong’s luggage and that of the other travelers.

Authorities stated that Wong and his companions failed to provide a clear explanation for the money’s origin.

Due to suspicions of money laundering, the Liberia Prosecutor’s Office ordered the confiscation of the cash as evidence.

Meanwhile, Wong and the other travelers were taken into custody at the Guanacaste Public Ministry, where they remain awaiting a judge’s decision on pretrial measures in the ongoing investigation.

According to the UK government, British embassies and consulates can offer limited assistance when a citizen is arrested abroad.

“If you are arrested or held in custody, the authorities in that country should ask whether you want them to contact the British embassy, high commission, or consulate. However, you can also request this directly,” the British government states on its website.

Once informed, embassy officials aim to contact the detainees, assess their situation, and provide support for their health and welfare.

However, the UK government emphasizes that diplomatic missions cannot secure a prisoner’s release, pay for legal representation, interpreters, or related costs, provide legal advice or represent the individual in court, intervene in local legal proceedings or prevent deportation after release.

Wong’s arrest is one of the recent incidents involving tourists accused of criminal activity in Costa Rica.  Last week, a court in Coto Brus canton, Puntarenas province, ordered pretrial detention for a Japanese citizen, Motoaki, who was indicted on charges of illegally trading, trafficking, or transporting wildlife.

Recently, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office announced that Edward Roberts has been appointed as the new UK Ambassador to Costa Rica.