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    Photos via Ministry of Public Security.
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Published on
Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff.
Costa
Rican authorities have arrested a U.S.
citizen woman, identified as DeLoach, at the
Juan Santamaría International Airport
(SJO) in
Alajuela Province on suspicion of drug
trafficking.
According
to the Ministry of Public Security,
DeLoach was taken into custody when she
was about to leave the country.
During
a routine luggage inspection in the
boarding area, airport baggage control
officers detected a suspicious substance
inside the passenger’s
suitcases.
Following
security protocols, officers conducted a
more thorough search with the assistance
of a specially trained canine unit.
"Authorities
discovered a package containing
approximately half a kilogram of cocaine
inside DeLoach’s
luggage," officials
said.
She
was transported to
holding cells at the
Public Ministry in Alajuela,
where she was scheduled for inquiry by
agents of the Judicial Investigation
Organization (OIJ). A judge will determine
any pretrial measures related to the
charges.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are withholding specific details. Only the suspect relatives are authorized to request further information.
The
OIJ is urging the public to report any
suspected drug trafficking activities.
Tips
can be submitted
confidentially by calling the hotline
at 800-8000-645
or the fast line at 11-76.
Bilingual agents are available to
assist in both English and Spanish. DeLoach
is among many U.S. citizens recently
arrested in Costa Rica. Last week, two U.S.
citizens, a man with the last name
Haag-Haag (also known as
Dale-Williams) and a woman
identified as Gorman-Grace, were
arrested by Costa Rica's Migration Police
on suspicion of human trafficking
for sexual exploitation. According
to the U.S. Embassy's
website, in cases involving U.S.
citizens arrested in Costa Rica, a
consular officer will visit the
individual to ensure their well-being
and review the conditions of their
arrest. The officer also provides
information on legal procedures,
including a list of attorneys, and can
notify family or friends upon request. However,
the embassy states that consular
officers cannot act as attorneys or
influence the release of U.S.
citizens. In
certain
cases,
consular officers may serve as
liaisons between the individual and
their family,
and provide a list of local attorneys.
They can also assist with transferring
funds for legal fees or to cover
living expenses while incarcerated. If
a U.S. citizen is
imprisoned
for an extended period, consular
officers will visit at least once
every three to four months. The
Ministry of Public Security (MSP) is
the government agency responsible for
ensuring citizen security, preserving
public order, forming police units,
and coordinating anti-crime
initiatives. The
Judicial Investigation Organization
(OIJ), a division of Costa Rica’s
Supreme Court of Justice, conducts
criminal investigations. Officers in
this operational unit have nationwide
police authority.
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