|
  
|
||||
 You
Might
Also Like    
     |
Published on Wednesday,
May 7, 2025.
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
In less than a
month, two anti-drug operations led by
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) have resulted in the seizure of
nearly 70 kilograms of methamphetamine,
the largest quantity of the
drug ever confiscated in Costa Rican
history, according to the Ministry of
Public Security.
Methamphetamine, a
powerful central nervous
system stimulant, is primarily used
recreationally or for performance
enhancement. Due to its high potential
for abuse and addiction, it is commonly
trafficked and sold illegally.
“This type of drug
is extremely addictive,” said Manuel
Jiménez Steller, Costa Rica’s Deputy
Minister of Special Investigation Units.
“At the Ministry of Public Security, we
are working to prevent a rise in its
consumption, which especially
affects our youth.
Operations like these, carried out with
DEA support, have a major impact on the
country’s illegal drug trade.”
The first major bust occurred on
April 10, after DEA agents alerted Costa
Rican authorities to a possible
methamphetamine shipment being stored in the country.
Acting on the tip,
officers from the Drug Control Police
launched an anti-drugs operation to
locate the suspected cargo.
During the
operation, officers conducted routine
highway patrols in the Plaza Viquez
District of San José.
While monitoring traffic, they
identified a vehicle matching the
description provided by the DEA.
Inside the vehicle
were five men: a Panamanian identified
by the last name Sánchez, a Nicaraguan
named Gómez, and three Costa Ricans
surnamed Abarca, Morales and Sánchez.
Officers conducted
a quick inspection and discovered
several packages containing pink pills.
When the suspects refused to clarify the
contents, they were arrested and the cargo was
seized.
A subsequent detailed inspection by the Drug Control Police confirmed the cargo contained 21 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Following
the alert, officers carried out
another patrol, this time in the Tibás canton,
San José. One vehicle matched the
DEA’s intelligence, and during a
preliminary search, officers found
packages containing a pink substance. The
driver, a Costa Rican man surnamed
Herrera, was taken into custody after
failing to provide
a clear explanation for the cargo. A
thorough inspection revealed 48
kilograms of methamphetamine stored in
reusable plastic containers. The
San José Prosecutor’s Office has
ordered the confiscation of the drugs,
vehicles, and any cash found as
evidence in both cases. All suspects
were transferred to the San José
Public Ministry and remain in custody
pending a judge’s decision on pretrial
measures. Authorities
are urging the public to report any
suspected drug trafficking activity
through the confidential hotline
800-8000-645 or the quick-response
line 11-76. Bilingual agents are
available to assist callers in English
or Spanish. These
operations are part of a recent surge
in joint DEA–Costa Rica enforcement
activity. In April, three
Mexican nationals were arrested and more than 800
kilograms of cocaine were seized in Quepos Beach,
Puntarenas. According
to the MSP, Costa Rica seized nearly
32 metric tons of cocaine and
approximately 15 metric tons of
marijuana in 2024.
The
U.S. State Department’s Bureau of
International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs (INL) works
closely with Costa Rican security
agencies to disrupt drug trafficking
operations. This collaboration has
resulted in record-breaking drug
seizures, including 72.7 metric tons
in 2020 and 71.1 metric tons in 2021.
To
support these efforts,
the U.S. government has provided more
than $260 million in bilateral and
regional security assistance to Costa
Rica.
This aid has helped modernize security
forces, strengthen the judicial
system’s ability to investigate and
prosecute transnational criminals, and
combat corruption.
U.S.
assistance includes equipment
donations, training, and technical
support aimed at enhancing Costa
Rica’s ability to confront organized
crime and the drug trade.
The
Ministry of Public Security remains
responsible for maintaining public
order, training police units, and
coordinating national anti-crime
efforts.
---------------
          |
|||
|