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The
gang was dedicated to the
illicit trafficking of
immigrants, from Africa, Asia,
Cuba and Haiti
/ Ministry of Security
courtesy photo.
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A Ministry of
Health employee detained with
36 others suspected of human
trafficking
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
On Tuesday, immigration officers
together with the prosecutor's
office against human Trafficking
and with the support of U.S.
Immigration and Customs
Enforcement arrested 36 people on
suspicion of being members of a
gang of illegal immigrant
trafficking.
According to the prosecutor's
report, the gang had two centers
of operation, one in the northern
zone of the country, near the
border with Nicaragua and the
other in the south near the border
with Panamá.
Agents reported that among the 36
detainees three could be gang
leaders from the northern center
of operations. Their surnames are
López, Hernández, and Murillo.
Murillo is an employee of the
Ministry of Health, said the
agency in its report.
Agents also arrested two possible
leaders from the southern zone
gang, with the surnames Ruíz and
Bejarano.
"This criminal organization is
dedicated to the illicit
trafficking of migrants, from the
southern zone to the northern
zone, trafficking people from
Africa, Asia, Cuba and Haiti,"
said the Directorate General of
Immigration in its statement. "
Immigrants crossed the country
intending to reach the United
States."
According to the agents' report,
the investigation began in January
2018, after they received
information about a human
trafficking network. During the
first operation, ten suspects were
arrested belonging to the same
gang.
"The gang charged sums of money
between $7,000 and up to $20,000
USD, depending on the migrant's
country of origin, or the profile
of the foreign person," said the
agency in its statement.
According to the investigation,
migrants arrived in Brazil,
Ecuador, Colombia, or Peru by air.
Then, the gang working in Costa
Rica, contacted them to transport
them into the country.
"Once they entered the country
illegally, (referring to the
migrants) they were transferred to
Liberia*,
(in the province of Guanacaste),
by bus. To move people from the
southern border to the northern
border," said the agency in its
statement.
Apparently, when the migrants
arrived in the north, they were
received by other gang members,
and then transferred to local
houses, where they were kept until
leaving the country.
The migrants were transported "by
sea from Puerto Soley or El Morro
Beach in Costa Rica to Honduras,"
agents said. "And by land to
Guatemala, where they were handed
over to other gang members in
those countries."
Officers from the Fiscal Control
Police, Drug Control Police,
Border Police, Air Surveillance
Service, Ministry of Security and
the Judicial Investigation
Organization were all part of this
operation.
At the same time, Panamanian
authorities executed 21 raids in
Panamá City and in the province of
Chiriquí. Ten of the gang members
arrested had ties to the gang
located in Costa Rica.
The 36 people accused were taken
to the public ministry to be
interviewed by authorities. They
must remain in custody until a
judge determines if there are any
pre-trial measures against them.
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Are you aware of any human
trafficking in your community? We
would like to know your thoughts
on this story. Send your comments
to news@amcostarica.com
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