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Published
on Thursday, August 13, 2026
By
the A.M. Costa Rica
staff
Costa
Rica on Thursday extradited a
63-year-old Costa Rican man identified
by the surname Bell-Fernández to the
United States to face drug trafficking
charges, marking the fourth time the
country has sent one of its citizens
abroad to face criminal prosecution. 
According
to the Public Prosecutor's Office,
along with Bell-Fernández, Costa Rican
authorities extradited Lozano, a
Colombian national who had been living
in Costa Rica. Lozano was arrested
four months ago under an extradition
order issued by U.S. authorities. The
Public Prosecutor’s Office carried out
the extraditions at about 8:55 a.m.
from Juan Santamaría International
Airport in Alajuela. Bell
and Lozano were flown to the United
States aboard an aircraft provided by
the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration. The aircraft had
arrived in Costa Rica specifically for
the extraditions. Costa Rican authorities
approved the final document
required to complete Bell’s
extradition last week.
The document, submitted by the U.S.
District Court for the Southern
District of New York, was a plea
agreement that guarantees Bell would
not face mandatory life imprisonment
if convicted. U.S.
authorities must also ensure that any
time Bell spent in pretrial detention
in Costa Rica following his October
2024 arrest is credited toward any
sentence imposed in the United States.
In June, the Criminal
Sentencing Appeals Court approved
Bell-Fernández’s deferred
extradition. According
to OFAC, Bell was one of the most
prolific drug traffickers in Limón
province and was allegedly responsible
for moving large quantities of
cocaine. The agency also described him
as one of the most violent traffickers
operating in the region. Costa
Rican authorities arrested Bell in
2015 and again in October 2024 on
drug-related charges. Authorities
have also seized property linked to
him during multiple operations,
including several boats allegedly used
to transport drugs. The vessels were
confiscated in February 2023. Bell
was in custody at the Jorge Arturo
Montero Penitentiary Center,
commonly known as La Reforma, in
Alajuela Province, until the
extradition process was completed
Thursday.
In April, Costa Rica
extradited its third citizen, a man
identified by the surname
Angulo-Fernández, to Italy on drug
trafficking charges. It
was the first time Costa Rica had sent one
of its citizens to Italy to face criminal
prosecution.
Authorities
arrested Angulo in July 2025 on drug
trafficking charges following an
extradition request from Italian
officials.
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 is responsible
for directing criminal investigations and
prosecuting criminal cases throughout the
country.
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