3 d. ago Costa Rica’s Congress Expands Organized Crime Probe, Summons Ex

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly is intensifying its investigation into alleged links between public officials and organized crime. Earlier today, the Special Permanent Commission on Security and Drug Trafficking voted unanimously to summon former presidents Laura Chinchilla (2010–2014) and Luis Guillermo Solís (2014–2018) to testify before Congress regarding their potential connections to Celso Gamboa, a former […] The post Costa Rica’s Congress Expands Organized Crime Probe, Summons Ex-Presidents appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Politics

6 d. ago Costa Rica Identified as Key Maritime Route for Cocaine Trafficking

Costa Rica appears among the main maritime and aerial routes for cocaine trafficking between South and North America, according to the World Drug Report 2025 published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The maps included in the report, based on data from 2023 and 2024, highlight major cocaine transit routes in the Americas. […] The post Costa Rica Identified as Key Maritime Route for Cocaine Trafficking appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Politics

1 week ago Celso Gamboa Allegedly Ran Drug Ring with Costa Rican Government Ties

Celso Gamboa, once Costa Rica’s Security Minister and a Supreme Court judge, now faces extradition to the U.S. for leading a major cocaine trafficking network. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) alleges Gamboa coordinated shipments across Central America, Colombia, and Mexico, and shockingly claimed government backing to pull it off. Arrested in San José yesterday, […] The post Celso Gamboa Allegedly Ran Drug Ring with Costa Rican Government Ties appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Politics

1 week ago Former Costa Rican Minister Arrested for Drug Trafficking, Faces U.S. Extradition

Costa Rica’s judicial police arrested Celso Gamboa, a former security minister and Supreme Court judge, on Monday, following a U.S. request for his extradition on drug trafficking charges. The 49-year-old was detained in San Jose, marking a significant moment for the country’s fight against organized crime. This arrest comes just weeks after Costa Rica passed […] The post Former Costa Rican Minister Arrested for Drug Trafficking, Faces U.S. Extradition appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Politics

2 w. ago Álvaro Torres Crespo On Capturing With the Poignant ‘Ella Se Detiene a Mirar’ How Fishermen Are Turning to Drug Trafficking in Small Corners of Costa Rica

Álvaro Torres Crespo On Capturing With the Poignant ‘Ella Se Detiene a Mirar’ How Fishermen Are Turning to Drug Trafficking in Small Corners of Costa Rica  Variety

Events

2 w. ago Six Arrested in Costa Rica for Hiding Drugs in Boats, Surfboards

A Costa Rican criminal group was taken down this week after smuggling 32 kilograms of cocaine into Australia, hidden inside roll-up inflatable boats. The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), led by the Deputy Prosecutor’s Office for Drug Trafficking, arrested six suspects during early morning raids on Wednesday. The operations spanned Mata Redonda in San José, Pozos […] The post Six Arrested in Costa Rica for Hiding Drugs in Boats, Surfboards appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

3 w. ago Guatemala and U.S. Strengthen Cooperation on Migration and Transnational Crime

Migration and drug trafficking dominated a meeting on Friday between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, according to the president. Landau concluded his regional tour in Guatemala, which also included visits to Mexico and El Salvador, where he met with Presidents Claudia Sheinbaum and Nayib Bukele, respectively. “The working […] The post Guatemala and U.S. Strengthen Cooperation on Migration and Transnational Crime appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

3 w. ago Costa Rica’s Massive Drug Raid Targets Cocaine Network to Europe

Costa Rican authorities struck a major blow against international drug trafficking dismantling a criminal network that smuggled over five tons of cocaine to Europe. The Drug Control Police (PCD) led the operation, named “Purge” internationally and the “Embassy Case” domestically, resulting in 12 arrests in Costa Rica and 25 more across Spain, Germany, Portugal, and […] The post Costa Rica’s Massive Drug Raid Targets Cocaine Network to Europe appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

3 w. ago Costa Rica’s New Extradition Law Faces Limits in Tackling Organized Crime

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly passed a constitutional amendment in May, allowing the extradition of nationals for international drug trafficking and terrorism. With 44 of 57 votes in favor, the reform, signed by President Rodrigo Chaves, responds to a surge in drug-related violence and judicial corruption, which doubled from 106 cases in 2019 to 273 in […] The post Costa Rica’s New Extradition Law Faces Limits in Tackling Organized Crime appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

4 w. ago Will Costa Rica’s New Extradition Treaty with the US Curb Growing Drug Trafficking?

Will Costa Rica’s New Extradition Treaty with the US Curb Growing Drug Trafficking?  InSight Crime

Politics

4 w. ago Will Costa Rica’s New Extradition Agreement with the US Curb Growing Drug Trafficking?

Will Costa Rica’s New Extradition Agreement with the US Curb Growing Drug Trafficking?  InSight Crime

Politics

last month Costa Rica Fights Drug Trafficking as Transit Hub Despite Resource Strains

Costa Rica remains a key route for drugs heading to North America, despite efforts to crack down on trafficking. The U.S. Department of State’s 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report reveals a slight drop in drug seizures—32.1 metric tons (MT) from January to September 2024, including 20.5 MT of cocaine and 11.5 MT of marijuana, […] The post Costa Rica Fights Drug Trafficking as Transit Hub Despite Resource Strains appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

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