Published on Thursday, October 15, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rican authorities deported a 64-year-old Russian citizen wanted in the United States on federal fraud-related charges.

The suspect was handed over to U.S. federal agents Wednesday at Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela Province, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The man, identified by the surname Larguine, was wanted under an international arrest warrant issued by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2025, the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) said.

The warrant is related to allegations that he illegally exported products to the United States between 2019 and 2021.

 

Larguine was arrested in December 2025 at Juan Santamaría International Airport after arriving on a flight from Mexico. His arrest followed the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice calling for his immediate detention.

He was held at the Immigration Apprehension Center in San José while authorities completed the extradition process to the United States, which concluded Wednesday with his transfer to U.S. federal agents.

Authorities have not released further details about the investigation, citing confidentiality. Only family members are authorized to request additional information.

The OIJ is urging the public to report any suspicions of individuals hiding in Costa Rica under a Red Notice. Tips can be submitted confidentially by calling the 10-digit hotline at 800-8000-645 or the fast line at 11-76, where bilingual agents assist in English and Spanish.

This case is one of many involving foreign nationals deported from Costa Rica due to criminal records. Recently, Costa Rica, with assistance from the United States, carried out a large-scale deportation operation, removing 20 foreign nationals who had been convicted of crimes.

Early this month, Costa Rica extradited a 40-year-old Costa Rican man identified by the surname Morales-Araya and four foreign nationals to the United States to face drug trafficking charges, marking the fifth time the country has sent one of its citizens abroad to face criminal prosecution.

  

Costa Rica recorded its first extraditions of citizens in March, when two men identified by the surnames Gamboa-Sánchez and López-Vega were sent to the United States on drug trafficking charges.

The recent extraditions follow a legal amendment that took effect in May 2025, allowing Costa Rica to extradite citizens by birth or naturalization to countries with which it maintains extradition treaties.

Authorities said about 20 Costa Rican citizens are currently detained and awaiting extradition to other countries to face criminal charges.


The Public Prosecutor’s Office directs criminal investigations and prosecutes criminal cases throughout Costa Rica.


The OIJ operates under the Supreme Court of Justice and is responsible for conducting criminal investigations nationwide. It also exercises police authority throughout the country.

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