Costa Rican Authorities Seize 4.3 Tons of Colombia-Produced Cocaine; Drug Bust Considered 2nd-Biggest in Costa Rican History

By Jess Smith Jul 19 2021, 04:11 AM EDT

The Costa Rican police on Sunday recorded their second-largest drug bust ever and the biggest so far this year.

Authorities in the Central American nation seized 4.3 tons of cocaine which were originally produced by drug cartels in Colombia, Costa Rican authorities stated on Sunday.

According to U.S. News, the Security Ministry of Costa Rica said the Colombian shipment of cocaine was transported in a container loaded with ceramic floor tiling aboard a commercial ship. The shipment arrived at the port of Moin in Costa Rica and was discovered from the Caribbean port of Turbo in Colombia.

Moreover, Costa Rican Security Minister, Michael Soto mentioned in a statement that so far in 2021, they were able to seize almost 40 tons of marijuana and cocaine in the country. The security minister added that they were hoping to surpass the numbers that they have seized last year.

Meanwhile, the latest major cocaine busts, which happened in recent years, have stoked fears in Costa Rican authorities as their country became a crucial point for drug trafficking. Based on the recent busts, Costa Rica has become an important transit country for Colombian drugs headed toward Europe.

Also, Costa Rican officials were worried about the latest information as they were once considered as one of Central America's most stable nations.

In 2020, the Security Ministry said that Costa Rican authorities seized close to 57 tons of cocaine, which was 56% higher compared to 2019. Last year, they have also intercepted 14.5 tons of marijuana.

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Costa Rica-U.S. Anti-Narcotics Efforts

The U.S. Embassy reported last month that the 39.2 metric tons of drugs seized in Costa Rica were transported to North America for destruction.

Carried by a U.S. military aircraft, the drugs that had been seized over the last seven months from the San José area to Florida were delivered to the U.S. by a C-17 military transport plane.

The U.S. Embassy emphasized that the seizure of hundreds of kilos of narcotics in Costa Rica was a complete effort of numerous agencies. The embassy highlighted the cooperation of PCS or the Drug Control Police, the Air Surveillance Service, Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ), and the Coast Guard for their efforts in intercepting the drugs in the country, Tico Times reported.

The Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Embassy, Gloria Berbena, stated that their cooperation in fighting against drug trafficking reflected the excellent relationship between both countries of Costa Rica and the U.S. Verbena added that they praised the excellent work of Costa Rican security services in the recent seizures. Since last year, the work done by the two countries reached the record, and it contributed to the safety in the hemisphere.

The U.S. Embassy said that the U.S. supported the installation of a drug incinerator in the Central American nation, which could eliminate the need for these flights in the future. However, until the incinerator would be put into operation, the U.S. would still be collaborating with the destruction of seized drugs.

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by Jess Smith

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