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Photo via United States Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard leads the arrest of gasoline smugglers in Costa Rica



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Published on Monday, September 2, 2024

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff




The United States Coast Guard led two gasoline smuggling operations in Costa Rica that resulted in the arrest of seven individuals accused of trafficking fuel.



According to the Ministry of Public Security, the first case happened on Friday, when a U.S. Coast Guard airplane spotted a suspicious small bass fishing boat crossing the Costa Rican Pacific Coast with no visible license plate number or country's flag.



U.S. officials led the Costa Rican Coast Guard to intercept the 32-foot-long boat around 80 nautical miles off Quepos Beach, Puntarenas Province.



Costa Rican authorities discovered at least five large gasoline containers as well as navigation equipment onboard.





The police arrested four male crew members suspected of trafficking gasoline: a Nicaraguan surnamed Sánchez (24), a Costa Rican surnamed Quiros (54) and two Colombians surnamed Sierra.



Authorities towed the boat to the Quepos Beach Coast Guard Station. On Saturday, Drug Control Police specialists conducted a more extensive inspection and discovered that the shipment included 660 liters of gasoline.



The suspects were unable to explain why they were shipping gasoline in an unlicensed boat. They were transferred to the Puntarenas Public Ministry cells and had to wait for a judge to rule on a pre-trial indictment for alleged gasoline smuggling.



The boat, fuel and electronic navigation equipment were confiscated as evidence in this case.



The second case occurred on Saturday when another U.S. Coast Guard airplane discovered a suspicious little bass fishing boat with no visible registration plate number or nation flag crossing the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast.



The Costa Rican Coast Guard located the 32-foot-long boat using coordinates provided by U.S. officials and after it went aground at Cieneguita Beach in Limón.





In a land operation, police detained three Costa Rican male boat crew suspects surnamed Estrada, Reyes, and Ruiz.



The cargo and boat were confiscated and transported to the Coast Guard station in Limón Beach. At the place, authorities discovered that the shipment consisted of several large fuel containers totaling 290 liters of gasoline.



Like the first case, the suspects were unable to justify their motives for shipping the gasoline on an unlicensed boat.
They were taken
to the Limon Public Ministry cells, where they had to wait for a judge to issue a pre-trial indictment for the alleged crime of gasoline smuggling.



 





Authorities urge people to report any suspicion of drug sales or trafficking to the ten-digit confidential line 800-8000-645 or fast line 11-76, where bilingual agents can answer calls in English or Spanish.



The State
Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) works closely with Costa Rican security partners.



Through cooperation and assistance from INL and other law enforcement agencies, Costa Rica confronts its drug trafficking problem by intercepting and confiscating illicit drugs.



Narcotics seizures by the Costa Rican government hit new records in 2020 and 2021, with 72.7 and 71.1 metric tons seized respectively. However, seizures declined in 2022 to 54.3 metric tons, according to the U.S. Department of State.



The U.S. assigned 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, the Department of State, added in its statement.



This assistance includes equipment donations, training, and technical assistance that enhance Costa Rica’s capacity to confront the growing threat of organized crime and drug trafficking. 



In June, the U.S. ​​donated almost $700,000 to the Ministry of Public Security to improve security tactics and equipment for police officers and agents of the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ).



The Ministry of Public Security (MSP) is the government agency in charge of ensuring citizen security, preserving public order, forming police units, and coordinating anti-crime initiatives.




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What more should the United States do to help Costa Rica fight gas smuggling?   We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com



  


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