The capture of 12 members of a gang accused of robbing gym users in Costa Rica was carried out on Thursday morning, after seven raids by the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) in Alajuela and other areas. According to a note from Diario Extra of Costa Rica, the organization is linked to 53 cases and damages exceeding ₡25 million colones (about $55,000) and USD 10,000, according to the a.i. subdirector Vladimir Muñoz. According to the OIJ, the group entered gyms as clients, forced lockers during brief moments of inattention, and stole credit and debit cards. They then made purchases in stores and virtual platforms, with a special focus on high-value goods, before the victims blocked the cards.
The note highlights that the investigation began in January 2025, when the agents detected a pattern that was repeated in gyms in San José and that later extended to Alajuela, Heredia and San Ramón, according to Muñoz.
How the gang operated in the gyms and what crimes are being investigated
The investigations allowed to document 27 legal cases at the beginning. With the progress of the file, about 25 additional cases were added, according to information from the OIJ, which keeps the total count at 53 complaints linked to the same structure. A blue-gloved hand forces the lock of a metal gym locker, revealing a wallet with bank cards and a mobile phone inside.We recommend reading: Panama opens the door to dialogue with Costa Rica, but demands “the same rules”
Seven raids and what was seized during the operation
On Thursday morning, OIJ agents carried out seven raids in Alajuela and other areas of the country. The operation ended with the capture of 12 people that the authorities link to the investigated gang. Among those arrested are the alleged leaders, identified by the last names Agüero (32) and Aguilar (23), as well as 10 other suspects, as detailed by the OIJ. During the procedures, agents seized mobile phones, liquor, marijuana, and items of value related to the investigated events, the institution reported.What’s next in the case and the OIJ’s request to potential victims
The case file remains open. The OIJ reported that it is still searching for a suspect pending arrest and that it does not rule out new complaints as information is reviewed and cases are incorporated. The victims, mostly regular gym users, noticed the theft during their routines or shortly after, when unauthorized charges appeared. ADVERTISEMENT. Seized objects, including bank cards, phones, liquor, and marijuana, are displayed on a light wooden table with case labels, in an OIJ investigation room. (Illustrative Image Infobae) The OIJ asked those who have suffered similar events to file a complaint to verify if there are connections with the ongoing case.Overview of Other Crimes in the Country
Between 2025 and May 2026, 7,543 reports of burglaries and thefts in homes were accumulated, an average of one case every hour and a half, according to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) in a publication by Monumental.In terms of lethal violence, in the first four months of 2026, 265 homicides were recorded, a lower figure than in the same period of 2025, and 66% of the victims were between 12 and 39 years old, according to the Ministry of Public Security, as published by Infobae.
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