A joint operation between the Air Surveillance Service (SVA) and the Drug Control Police (PCD) culminated in the arrest of a Guatemalan citizen and the seizure of 202 kilograms of apparent cocaine, during a roadside check carried out in the Palmira district, Carrillo canton, in the province of Guanacaste.
The police action was carried out as part of the preventive measures that both units permanently execute to combat drug trafficking and other criminal activities on strategic routes in the country.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, during the operation, officers intercepted a vehicle that aroused suspicion due to its behavior. After conducting an initial inspection, a canine agent specialized in drug detection from the Air Surveillance Service positively indicated the possible presence of illicit substances inside the vehicle.
The alert issued by the detection dog prompted the officers to coordinate with judicial authorities to carry out a more thorough search of the vehicle. During that inspection, the agents located a hidden compartment specially equipped for transporting drugs.
Inside the hideout, 202 packages containing apparent cocaine were found. Each of them had an approximate weight of one kilogram, for a total of 202 kilograms of the illicit substance, according to preliminary information provided by the authorities.
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In addition to the drugs, authorities seized US$58,000, ₡1.4 million in cash, and the vehicle used for transport. Credit: MSP
In addition to the drug shipment, officers seized 58,000 US dollars, ₡1.4 million (USD 3,000) in cash, and the vehicle used for the alleged transport of the narcotics, which were placed at the disposal of judicial authorities as part of the investigation.
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Following the discovery, the officers proceeded with the arrest of the vehicle’s driver, a man of Guatemalan nationality with the surname Carrera, who was presented before the Public Prosecutor’s Office so that his legal status may be determined and the corresponding criminal proceedings may continue.
The authorities did not detail the destination of the shipment or whether the detainee is part of any criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking. These aspects will be analyzed during the investigation being carried out by the Prosecutor’s Office together with specialized police units.
The Ministry of Public Security highlighted that these types of controls are part of the strategy to strengthen surveillance on the main national routes used by criminal organizations to move drugs within Costa Rican territory or to other destinations in the region.
Guanacaste, due to its geographical location and its connection to important road corridors, has been the scene of various anti-drug trafficking operations in recent years. For this reason, authorities maintain a constant presence through road checkpoints, land patrols, and aerial surveillance to detect suspicious movements and prevent the transport of illicit substances.
Officers located a hidden compartment where the 202 packages of apparent cocaine were being transported. Credit: MSP
The Air Surveillance Service and the Drug Control Police noted that the participation of specialized canine units continues to be a key tool in the detection of shipments hidden in vehicles, as they allow for the identification of modified compartments that often go unnoticed during a visual inspection.
The authorities reiterated that they will maintain these types of operations in different parts of the country with the goal of preventing drug trafficking, dismantling criminal structures dedicated to this activity, and strengthening security on national highways.
