A joint operation led by the U.S. Coast Guard and Costa Rican authorities resulted in the seizure of more than 1.6 tons of cocaine off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.

The Ministry of Public Security (MSP) stated the mission began Saturday when a U.S. Coast Guard surveillance plane spotted a suspicious go-fast boat traveling without registration numbers or national flags.

On Sunday, Costa Rican Coast Guard units, acting on the coordinates provided, intercepted the 30-foot vessel near Jiménez Port in Puntarenas province. On board, officers found large bags containing dozens of packages believed to be cocaine.

Authorities detained four crew members, two Costa Ricans and two Colombians, on drug trafficking charges. Their names were not released.

The vessel was towed to the Golfito Beach Coast Guard station, where Drug Control Police (PCD) conducted a detailed inspection. Officials later confirmed the haul weighed 1,620 kilograms (about 3,570 pounds).

The suspects were transferred to a detention facility under the jurisdiction of the Puntarenas Public Ministry. Prosecutors are seeking pretrial detention while the men face international drug trafficking charges.

The seizure is part of ongoing cooperation under the Joint Maritime Patrol Treaty between Costa Rica and the United States. Recently, the DEA led an operation that resulted in the arrest of the former deputy mayor of Golfito Canton on drug trafficking charges.

Costa Rican authorities seized nearly 32 tons of cocaine and 15 tons of marijuana in 2024 alone, according to MSP data. The country has recorded some of the highest drug seizure totals in Central America in recent years, including 72.7 metric tons in 2020 and 71.1 metric tons in 2021.

U.S. assistance to Costa Rica helps counter drug trafficking and transnational crime.  Since 2018, the Department of State has allocated over $269 million in bilateral and regional security assistance to strengthen and modernize Costa Rica’s security forces, improve local security throughout the country, reduce the influence of corruption, and enhance the justice sector’s ability to investigate and prosecute transnational criminals.

"This assistance includes equipment donations, training, and technical assistance that enhance Costa Rica’s capacity to confront the growing threat of organized crime and narcotrafficking," stated the U.S. Embassy on its website.

The MPS is the government agency responsible for citizen safety, public order, and anti-crime initiatives.