Vehicle robbery suspects
nabbed by police in Heredia


They call it  bajonazo when a crook sticks a gun in the face of a motorist at a stop light and forces the driver from the car.

There has been a decrease in the number of cases after investigators knocked over several firms dealing in used part that were ready markets for stolen cars.

But the crime reared its head in Barreal de Heredia, but Fuerza Pública officers caught two suspects in the stolen vehicle not far from the crime scene.

Once again the suspects, who were being presented to the flagrancy court, have records of crimes. One, identified by the last names of Céspedes Chávez, has a drug crime, an aggravated robbery and simple robbery on his record. The second, identified by the last names of  Wiltshire Beckford, has a record of rape, drugs, simple and aggravated robbery and threatening with a firearm, said the Fuerza Pública.


Seven lawmakers unite
to promote the Caribbean


The province of Limón now has its own caucus in the legislature.

Seven lawmakers from six political parties have formed a group to push for development in the Caribbean province.

They are Danny Hayling of Liberación, Luis Vásquez of the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana, Gerardo Vargas of Frente
Amplio, Abellino Esquivel of Renovación Costarricense, Carmen Quesada of Movimiento Libertario  and Marlene Madrigal and Epsy Campbell, both of Acción Ciudadana.

A statement said that the lawmakers would push for widening of Ruta 32, the generation of economic and educational opportunities, security, development of the ports and airport, agricultural development, the promotion of tourism, the promotion of a special economic zone for the Chinese, the construction of a new petroleum refinery and promotion of the government project Limón Ciudad Puerto.

The group also seeks to change the Costa Rican Constitution to declare the country multiethnic and also establish autonomy for the native populations, the group said.

The lawmakers said they would meet next Tuesday with Ann Mc Kinley, who now heads the state agency that runs the ports in the province.

The group is calling itself the Fracción Caribe.

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A multi-agency force swept through a downtown section of  San José Tuesday and turned up 29 illegal persons.

The police and representatives of other agencies visited 32 businesses, many of them bars or strip clubs.

Involved were the Policía Municipal, the immigration police, the tax police, the Patronato de la Infancia, which is the child protection agency, and traffic police.

Officers were able to encounter one man who was the subject of an arrest warrant for aggravated robbery.

The sweep was to the west and south of the center of town along  Avenida 8 and Calle 6. This is an area where there are a number of bars and adult entertainment operations best described as seedy.

The tax police were able to locate a storage facility that contained 700 bottles of alcohol. The owners of the bottles were unable to produce a sales document showing taxes have been paid, police said.

During the sweep officers said they were able to detain one man who was accused of stealing a wallet from a women in a bar. He seemed to have been unaware of the police presence.

Offices also confiscated a revolver that was being carried illegally.

The sweep is believed to be part of the effort promised by the new administration of the security ministry to concentrate on prevention.


Another quake off Panamá
reported Tuesday night


The Laboratorio de Ingenieria Sismica reported a 5.3 magnitude earthquake that struck at 11:28 p.m. Tuesday.

The epicenter was about the same location as that of a 6.5 magnitude quake that took place early Tuesday. The spot was in the Pacific off the coast of Panamá.

The Laboratorio said the epicenter  was 88.9 kilometers south southeast of Laurel de Corredores. The location is right at the Middle American Trench where the Cocos tectonic plate is pushing under the Caribbean plate.