Costa Rica: International narco-trafficking network dismantled
By Dialogo April 25, 2013
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica – Costa Rican authorities dismantled an international narcotics network by arresting 30 suspects charged with trafficking three tons of cocaine since May 2012, Security Minister Mario Zamora said on April 24.
“It’s a capable criminal organization that sends drugs from Colombia to Mexico,” he told reporters.
Zamora said the year-long investigation led to the arrests of 30 suspects, with the final 10 taken into custody on April 24. The suspects include 19 Costa Ricans, seven Colombians, three Nicaraguans and a Panamanian.
During the investigation, authorities made four seizures totaling 3,115 kilos of cocaine and three boats, Zamora said, adding the network had connections in Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Panama and Colombia.
“The organization was responsible for transporting, warehousing, purchasing and distributing internationally cocaine,” said Mauricio Boraschi, Costa Rica’s national anti-drug commissioner.
Authorities have seized more than five tons of cocaine this year after seizing 15.5 tons in 2012 and 7.3 tons in 2011
[AFP (Costa Rica), 24/04/2013; In Sight Crime.com (Costa Rica), 24/04/2013; Ministry of Security (Costa Rica), 24/04/2013]
