Costa Rica illegal arms supply evolution

Authorities in Costa Rica have identified a shift in the methods used by criminal organizations to acquire weaponry. Following the arrest of Alejandro Arias Monge, known as ‘Diablo’, in Sarapiquí, law enforcement seized assault rifles, pistols, and surveillance drones. This incident highlighted a transition toward more sophisticated illegal economies involving stolen weapons, diverted legal arms, and local assembly.

Further developments in Uvita de Osa, Puntarenas, underscored the growing threat of 3D-printed weapons, or ‘ghost guns’. During a drug trafficking raid, the Drug Control Police seized four 3D-printed firearms alongside 357 kilograms of cocaine. Security officials, including Vice Minister of Security Nelson Barquero, warned that these weapons pose a significant national security threat because they lack serial numbers or identifiable manufacturers, making them nearly impossible to trace. The Ministry of Security noted that these components can be combined with conventional parts to match the lethality of standard firearms, allowing criminal networks to evade customs and traditional police controls.