The Drug Control Police (PCD) dealt a new blow to international drug trafficking in the Costa Rican Caribbean after seizing 256 packages of cocaine and arresting eight people during an operation carried out at the Moín Container Terminal, in Limón.
The procedure took place when anti-drug agents surprised several people who were allegedly unloading a large shipment of drugs from the cabin of a semi-truck to another location within the port facilities.
Among those detained is an official of the Public Force, surnamed Picado, who, according to the information provided by the authorities, allegedly collaborated to allow the entry of the trailer that was transporting the cargo.
The arrest of the police officer adds to the authorities’ actions to identify possible links between public officials and organizations dedicated to international drug trafficking. The Minister of Public Security, Gerald Campos, was emphatic when referring to these types of cases.
“Any police officer we find who is on the side of the criminals, we are going to arrest them and present them to the Public Prosecutor’s Office”, declared Campos.
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In addition to the official, PCD agents arrested seven employees of a private company that provides logistics services within the port terminal.
The detainees were identified by the authorities by the surnames Díaz, Meza, Allet, Osorio, Cooper, Arrieta and Correa.
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According to the police report, some of the suspects had already had contact with investigations related to drug trafficking. Díaz has a record for a violation of the Child and Adolescent Law, while Meza had been previously detained by the PCD and linked to an investigation for international drug trafficking.
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The situation of Allet also caught the attention of investigators, because he had already been arrested by the PCD for the same crime.
In contrast, the authorities pointed out that Osorio, Cooper, Arrieta, and Correa had no prior criminal records.
The cocaine was located when several people were allegedly unloading the cargo from the cab of a semi-truck. Credit: MSP
During the operation, the agents not only located the drugs. They also seized ₡613,000 (USD 1,362) in cash, two firearms, three magazines, and 42 rounds of ammunition of various calibers.
In addition to these elements, the van involved in transporting the cargo remains in the custody of the authorities as part of the proceedings related to the investigation.
The seizure occurs amidst a series of operations against structures dedicated to international drug trafficking that use the country’s port infrastructure to move shipments of cocaine to international markets.
The authorities described this procedure as the fourth blow to international drug trafficking recorded in less than a week, within the framework of the so-called Operation Sovereignty.
According to the data provided by the Ministry of Public Security, this strategy has already allowed for exceeding 23 tons of cocaine seized since 2023.
Two firearms, three magazines, and 42 rounds of ammunition of various calibers were seized by the authorities. Credit: MSP
The use of port terminals and workers linked to logistics operations constitutes one of the focuses of attention for police forces, due to the role these facilities play in the movement of goods to different international destinations.
The investigation must now determine exactly what the involvement of each of the detainees was, as well as establish whether there was an organized structure behind the transport of the shipment located in Moín.
The eight people were transferred to the Limón Prosecutor’s Office, where they were placed at the disposal of the Public Ministry. The Prosecutor’s Office will be in charge of requesting the appropriate precautionary measures while the investigations proceed.
The investigation remains open and the authorities will have to determine the intended destination of the shipment, its origin, and the possible connections of those detained with organizations dedicated to international drug trafficking.
