A U.S. Air Force Globemaster transported nearly 45 tons of drugs seized in Costa Rica this year to the United States on Friday for destruction, according to the U.S. Embassy.

The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft developed for the U.S. Air Force. The strategic transport aircraft can airlift cargo close to a battle area. It is 174 feet long and has a wingspan of 169 feet, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

The Globemaster arrived at Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela Province at about 1 p.m. on Friday, where it was loaded with the massive shipment seized during various anti-drug operations.

"The U.S. military's C-17 aircraft departed Costa Rica carrying 45 tons of cocaine seized by Costa Rican authorities with support from the United States and other partner countries participating in the Shield of the Americas and the Coalition of the Americas Against Cartels," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

According to the embassy, the operation represents more than $1.25 billion in drugs that remain out of the hands of criminal networks.

"A new era of security cooperation yields results against cartels and makes our hemisphere a safer place," the embassy added.

Costa Rica has been working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in the fight against illegal drug trafficking.

The transfer was carried out with the approval of the Public Prosecutor's Office. Agents from the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) handed the drugs over to agents from the DEA.

The drug transfer operation at the airport was attended by U.S. Ambassador Melinda Hildebrand, Attorney General Carlo Díaz-Sánchez and Michael Mauricio Soto-Rojas, director general of the OIJ, along with other top officials.

The shipment was a consolidation of drugs seized in Costa Rica during operations conducted by the Drug Control Police, National Coast Guard Service, Border Police and OIJ, among other Costa Rican law enforcement agencies.


“Ocean chases, the seizure of a semi-submersible vessel, and confrontations with drug traffickers aboard high-speed boats are among the operations carried out by officers of the National Coast Guard Service (SNG) with the support of the United States, Colombia and Panama, efforts that continue to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and the protection of our waters,” the Ministry of Public Security (MSP) said Friday in a social media post.

However, Costa Rican authorities had not issued an official statement regarding the shipment of drugs to the United States as of Friday.

President Laura Fernández-Delgado said that during her administration, which began May 8, authorities have seized “almost 23,000 kilograms of cocaine and marijuana,” depriving drug traffickers of at least $90 million.

Fernández made the remarks during an event thanking the U.S. government for donating two interceptor boats and three all-terrain vehicles, valued at $2.3 million, to Costa Rica’s National Coast Guard Service.

Costa Rican authorities are expected to provide additional details in the coming hours about the shipment of drugs sent to the United States for destruction.

The transfer of the seized drugs is one of numerous anti-drug operations carried out in Costa Rica with support from the U.S. government.  Recently, a joint operation led by the DEA resulted in the arrest of five people suspected of being members of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.

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

According to the U.S. Department of State, the United States has provided nearly $270 million in bilateral and regional security assistance to Costa Rica from 2018 to January 2025.

The assistance includes equipment, training and technical expertise intended to strengthen law enforcement, combat organized crime and improve Costa Rica’s justice system’s ability to prosecute transnational criminal groups.

The MSP is the government department responsible for citizen safety, public order and efforts to combat crime.

The OIJ, a division of Costa Rica’s Supreme Court of Justice, is responsible for conducting criminal investigations and has nationwide police authority.

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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