Costa Rica seized over 4 tons of cocaine in Caribbean Sea this year

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Thursday July 18, 2013 – Costa Rica’s Minister of Public Safety, Francisco Zamora, says law enforcement officials have seized 4.6 tons of cocaine and 1.47 tons of marijuana in the Caribbean Sea so far this year.

Zamora told reporters here that between January and July, the Coast Guard  intercepted 11 boats in the “Caribbean zone” and arrested 12 suspects “for offenses related to drug trafficking.

He said all suspects are in currently in custody awaiting trial.

Between January and June, Zamora said police and the Coast Guard also seized 15,396 liters of fuel and 11 vessels “linked with drug trafficking in Caribbean Costa Rican waters.”

Costa Rica’s Ministry of Public Safety said Zamora’s remarks coincided with a public event celebrating the reinforcement of four Coast Guard stations in Limón near the Caribbean Sea.

“The work of these maritime search and rescue and law enforcement officers is being augmented by more powerful outboard engines on their small boats, which are sometimes no match for the racing-style boats used by drug runners who launch from Colombia and Venezuela and attempt to offload their cargo on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica,” the statement said.

With the augmenting and modernization of the four Coast Guard stations, Zamora said he intends to “exert more control against drug trafficking in Limón.”

Zamora said Costa Rica and Colombia are “studying the possibility of an agreement for joint patrols in the Caribbean to strengthen monitoring in the area.” (CMC)