Published on Monday, April 27, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rica on Monday extradited a citizen identified by the surname Angulo-Fernández to Italy on drug trafficking charges, marking the first time the country has sent a national to Europe to face criminal prosecution.

The Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) said agents carried out the extradition at about 3 p.m. from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela.

Angulo was handed over to officers of Italy’s State Police, the Polizia di Stato, which operates under the country’s justice authorities.

Authorities arrested Angulo in July 2025 on drug trafficking charges following an extradition request from Italian officials.

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

That case marked the first time the country extradited its citizens abroad to face criminal prosecution.

 

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 15 Costa Ricans are currently detained and awaiting extradition to other countries to face criminal charges.

The OIJ, a branch of the Supreme Court of Justice, is responsible for conducting criminal investigations nationwide.

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