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Costa Rican authorities arrested Bell in October 2024 on drug-related charges.
Photo courtesy of the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ).

Costa Rica Authorizes Third Citizen Extradition To U.S.

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Published on Wednesday, June 3, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A Costa Rican court has approved the deferred extradition of a Costa Rican citizen identified by the surname Bell-Fernández to the United States on allegations of drug trafficking and money laundering.

The court action marks the third time the country has authorized the extradition of one of its own citizens to face criminal charges abroad.

The Criminal Sentencing Appeals Court of Costa Rica's Supreme Court of Justice ruled Tuesday that Bell can be extradited to the United States for his alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

The court said the extradition is conditional and will proceed only if U.S. authorities comply with a series of requirements established by Costa Rica.

Among those conditions, the United States must formally guarantee that Bell-Fernández will not be sentenced to life imprisonment or receive a prison term exceeding 50 years, the maximum sentence permitted under Costa Rican law.

U.S. authorities must also ensure that any time Bell has already spent in pretrial detention in Costa Rica is credited toward any eventual sentence.

The court ordered U.S. authorities to submit a formal notification confirming their commitment to comply with the guarantees requested by Costa Rica.

The deadline for submitting the notification may be extended at the request of the United States, provided that domestic legal proceedings involving Bell have not concluded.

In November 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Bell as part of a group of Costa Rican nationals accused of involvement in narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

According to OFAC, Bell is one of the most prolific drug traffickers in Limón province, allegedly responsible for moving large quantities of cocaine. OFAC also described him as one of the most violent traffickers operating in the region.

Costa Rican authorities arrested Bell in 2015 and October 2024 on drug-related charges.

Authorities have also seized property linked to him in multiple operations, including several boats allegedly used for drug transshipment that were confiscated in February 2023.

Authorities said Bell-Fernández will remain in custody at the Jorge Arturo Montero Penitentiary Center, commonly known as "La Reforma," located in Alajuela Province, until the extradition process is completed.

In March 2026, Costa Rica extradited two citizens identified by the surnames López-Vega and Gamboa-Sánchez to the United States on drug trafficking charges, marking the first time the country sent its own nationals abroad to face criminal prosecution.

Those cases followed a legal amendment that took effect in May 2025, allowing the extradition of Costa Rican citizens, whether by birth or naturalization, to countries with which Costa Rica maintains extradition treaties.

Costa Rica's Supreme Court is the country's highest judicial authority and the court of final appeal in legal and constitutional matters.

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Have you heard of any cases involving expats extradited to face drug trafficking charges abroad? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com