U. S. Coast Guard alerted about a boat sailing near the coast of Golfito. / Ministry of Security courtesy photo.
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U.S. Coast Guard alerts Costa Rican
authorities about drug boat near Golfito
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Public Security Minister Michael Soto announced the collaboration of the U. S. Coast Guard, by sharing an alert about a boat sailing near the coast of Golfito*, in the southern part of the country.
"Thanks to the teamwork developed between the United States government and the Public Security police," the Ministry said in its statement. "U.S. authorities were the ones who alerted their Costa Rican counterparts."
According to the police report, the Coast Guard found a boat near Colibri Beach* in Golfito. "A boat and two engines of 300 hp each, which were confiscated," said the police in their report.
A pit was also found near the area "where a cargo of cocaine was hidden," the police said in their report.
The drugs found were inside nine bags that were hidden in the pit. The agents of the Drug Control Police reported "there were 194 packages with cocaine inside the cargo that was seized," said the police in their report.
This is the third time this month that U.S. authorities have helped Costa Rican police in the fight against drug trafficking.
As A.M. Costa Rica reported on August 12th, DEA helps Coast Guard capture four suspected of trafficking more than one ton of cocaine
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) helped the Costa Rican Coast Guard capture four suspects, two Costa Ricans surnamed López-Avalos, Espinoza-Álvarez, and two Nicaraguans surnamed Flores-Zamora and Mejía-Sambrano. They were the crew of a boat sailing with a cargo of 1,002 kilograms of cocaine.
According to the police report, officers of the National Coast Guard Services received an alert from the DEA about a boat sailing in coastal waters in the Central Pacific, "53 nautical miles from Puntarenas*, and named Princes Claudio," said the police.
Of the two Costa Ricans suspects López-Avalos, 45, was identified as the captain. He has a criminal record for reckless driving and drug transportation. The other Costa Rican Espinoza-Álvarez, 34, has no criminal record.
Also, the two Nicaraguans suspects both have a residency card in Costa Rica, one Flores-Zamora, 33, has a criminal record for disobeying authority and protective measures that another person requested against him. The other suspects Mejía-Sambrano, 44, has no criminal record.
In addition to the arrests, agents of the Drug Control Police found the cargo of drugs hidden in the boat. "The total of seized drugs was 1,002 packages, each approximately one kilogram of cocaine, about $100 in cash and electronic equipment," said the police in its report.
The suspects were sentenced by the judge to six months in pre-trial prison.
Another case was reported on August 2nd, when the U.S. Coast Guard helped the Costa Rican authorities, in stopping a boat shipping 640 kilos of cocaine.
According to the agents' report, the ship was intercepted by the United States Coast Guard while sailing on the southern coast of the Pacific Ocean near Colombia.
The ship, with Costa Rican plates, containing drugs as cargo, was escorted to the port in Golfito.
The crew, all four Costa Rican men, was arrested. The suspect's surnamed Carazo-Carazo, Cedeño-Carazo, Burgos-Morales, and Chavarría Solano have no previous criminal record, said the agents in a recently updated report.
The judge ordered six months of pre-trial prison to those suspects.
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What should the government do to prevent the transportation of drugs in the maritime zone of the country? We would like to know your thoughts on this story.
Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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