Published on Thursday, September 24, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The United States government has donated two interceptor boats and three all-terrain vehicles valued at $2.3 million to Costa Rica’s National Coast Guard Service, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica announced Thursday.

U.S. Ambassador Melinda Hildebrand officially handed over the boats and vehicles to Costa Rican President Laura Fernández Delgado during a ceremony at the Bahia Golfito Marina in Golfito Beach, Puntarenas Province.

According to authorities, the two interceptor boats are state-of-the-art, high-speed U.S. Coast Guard vessels manufactured by American company SAFE Boats. The vessels are intended to strengthen Costa Rica’s ability to monitor and respond to activities related to drug trafficking in national and international waters.

The three Toyota Land Cruiser Hard Top all-terrain vehicles will also strengthen patrol, pursuit and interception operations involving suspects engaged in illegal activities, particularly drug trafficking.

The donation is part of U.S.-Costa Rican bilateral cooperation on maritime security. It is intended to expand the operational capabilities of Costa Rica’s maritime security forces and deepen cooperation between the two countries, with an emphasis on preventing international drug trafficking and combating criminal organizations operating in the region.

Ambassador Hildebrand also presented medals of honor to the Special Police Operations Group, known as GOPES, of Costa Rica’s National Coast Guard Service for its role as one of the pillars of the U.S. Coast Guard’s efforts to combat drug trafficking in Central America.

President Fernández thanked the United States for its support, saying the new equipment strengthens Costa Rica’s ongoing fight against drug trafficking.

“Our people are asking for peace and are tired of so much impunity,” Fernández said. “From our position, we will not rest until we achieve the goal of restoring peace of mind to good people.”

During the event, Fernández also signed the implementation of Costa Rica’s new Port Security Law, which establishes mechanisms to strengthen the protection of port infrastructure, trade and supply chains.

According to information provided by the U.S. Embassy, Costa Rican authorities have seized approximately 44 metric tons of illegal drugs in 2026 as part of operations against criminal organizations that use Costa Rican waters for their activities.

In related developments, on Tuesday, Costa Rica participated in the Shield of the Americas summit, an anti-cartel coalition led by U.S. President Donald Trump and held at United Nations headquarters in New York City.

Member countries agreed to defend democratic institutions against armed narco-terrorist networks. Proposed measures include coordinating sanctions, designations and financial actions against terrorists and criminals; expanding civilian law enforcement; and providing humanitarian and messaging assistance to defend the popular will.

The meeting took place alongside the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Trump urged members of the coalition to designate narco-terrorists as common threats to regional stability and impose sanctions against U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations.

Costa Rica has also expanded its security cooperation with other countries in the region.  Earlier this week, President Fernández met with Colombian President Abelardo Gabriel de la Espriella Otero at Colombia’s alternate presidential headquarters at the Paraíso Battalion in Barranquilla.

The two leaders agreed to pursue a hard-line policy against illegal groups, including groups described as narco-terrorists, in their respective countries and to cooperate in the fight against criminal organizations.

Costa Rica recently participated in the international anti-drug operation ATLAS NEXUS, a coordinated effort involving the European Union and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that identified and dismantled transnational criminal networks.

According to the European Union, ATLAS NEXUS involved 35 countries and resulted in the arrest of more than 490 people and the seizure of more than 156.9 metric tons of drugs. In Costa Rica, authorities reported the seizure of more than 27.8 metric tons of drugs and 181 firearms, as well as 375 arrests.

As part of bilateral security cooperation between the United States and Costa Rica, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Costa Rican authorities also arrested five people suspected of being members of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.

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What additional support should the United States provide to Costa Rica in the fight against drug trafficking? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com