Costa Rican authorities seize 73 kilos of cocaine hidden in a vegetable shipment in Moín

The authorities of Costa Rica’s Public Security managed a new blow to international drug trafficking after seizing 73 kilograms of cocaine hidden in an export shipment at the Moín Container Terminal, in Limón. The discovery was made on the afternoon of this Monday within the framework of the so-called Sovereignty Operation, a strategic deployment that seeks to reinforce controls at one of the main points of exit of goods from the country. According to official information, the drug was detected thanks to the scanning systems installed in the port terminal. The officers identified irregularities in the cargo, which allowed them to locate the cocaine packages hidden in the pallets that were transporting vegetables destined for export. The shipment’s final destination was a port in the Netherlands, a route that has been used repeatedly by criminal organizations for the international trafficking of narcotics.

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Authorities did not specify if anyone has been detained in connection with this case, however, the seizure is part of a sustained strategy to intercept illicit shipments seeking to leave the country through commercial containers. This new blow adds to a series of seizures carried out under Operation Sovereignty, which since its launch in July 2023 has allowed the seizure of more than 21.7 tons of cocaine, consolidating itself as one of the main efforts of the Costa Rican State in the fight against drug trafficking. The Moín Container Terminal, operated under strict logistical and technological controls, has become a key point for the authorities, due to the high volume of exports that are mobilized through this port, especially to European markets. Precisely, Europe continues to be one of the main destinations for drugs coming from Latin America, which has increased the efforts of Costa Rican authorities to reinforce surveillance in ports and strategic points. The use of high-tech scanners has been fundamental in this type of operation, as it allows the detection of anomalies in shipments without the need to open each container, optimizing inspection processes and increasing the effectiveness of controls. In this case, the timely intervention of the officers prevented the drug from leaving the country, thus affecting the logistical structures of the criminal organizations that use international trade as a front for their illicit operations. In addition to the immediate impact of the seizure, this type of action also sends a message to drug trafficking networks about the strengthening of surveillance capabilities in Costa Rica, particularly at strategic points such as the province of Limón. Authorities have reiterated on several occasions that inter-institutional coordination and the use of technology are fundamental pillars to confront organized crime, especially in a context where criminal organizations are constantly seeking new ways to conceal drugs.

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The seizure of the 73 kilograms of cocaine adds to the ongoing efforts to keep drug exit routes under control, in a country that, due to its geographical location, is considered a strategic point within international drug trafficking routes. As investigations proceed to determine responsibilities in this case, the authorities maintain operations at the port terminal and other points of the national territory, with the aim of continuing to strike at the criminal structures operating in the region.