Published on Wednesday, October 22, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rican authorities have deported a Nicaraguan man wanted in the United States on charges of sexual abuse and rape of a minor, officials confirmed Tuesday.

The 46-year-old suspect, identified by his last name, Herrera, was handed over to U.S. agents at Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela. The transfer was coordinated by Interpol and the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ).

According to the OIJ, Herrera was the subject of a Red Notice issued by the Western District of Texas in 1999. Prosecutors there accused him of fleeing the country after being charged with sexually abusing and raping a minor.

Herrera was arrested in a public area in Heredia Province in 2020 after 21 years on the run, the OIJ said.

He was held at the Migration Apprehension Center in San José until his deportation was finalized at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Authorities have not released further details, saying that only Herrera’s immediate family members may request additional information.

In related news, the San José Criminal Court has approved the extradition of three Costa Rican citizens to the United States, marking the first time in the country’s history that nationals will be extradited.

The decision follows a legal reform that took effect in May 2025, allowing Costa Rican citizens, by birth or naturalization, to be extradited to countries with which Costa Rica has signed treaties.

The OIJ is urging the public to report individuals who may be the subject of an international Red Notice. Confidential tips can be submitted via the 10-digit hotline 800-8000-645 or the quick line 11-76. Bilingual agents are available to assist in both English and Spanish.

The OIJ, a division of the Supreme Court of Justice, is responsible for conducting criminal investigations and holds nationwide police authority.

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