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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [CRIME]

7 clusters · 103 sources · 57 days · First seen 2 months ago · Last updated 3 days ago

Organized crime and drug trafficking in Latin America

Overview

Authorities in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Ecuador continue to address various facets of organized crime and drug trafficking. In Costa Rica, concerns persist regarding the recruitment of minors, with Public Security Minister Gerald Campos highlighting that drug trafficking organizations are using adolescents as hitmen. Recent enforcement operations in Costa Rica, supported by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), have targeted international networks. In raids across Sabana Sur, Alajuela, and Esparza, police detained five individuals—including nationals from Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru—allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. These operations resulted in the seizure of cocaine, firearms, cash, and jewelry. Additionally, a separate operation near the Panamanian border in the Canoas district led to the seizure of 312 kilograms of cocaine following reports of a suspicious vehicle. Experts from the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED) warn that Costa Rica is evolving from a transit point into a logistical hub for international trafficking, facilitating the storage and distribution of narcotics. This shift is reflected in Costa Rica’s inclusion on the U.S. list of major drug transit or production nations for fiscal year 2027. In a major international crackdown known as Operation Atlas Nexus, the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) arrested 375 individuals and seized over 27.8 tons of drugs, including 24.5 tons of cocaine. This operation also led to the capture of Alejandro Arias Monge, alias ‘Diablo,’ a high-profile fugitive wanted by the DEA. To strengthen legal frameworks, the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly has moved to reform the Organic Law of the Judiciary and create specialized jurisdiction for organized crime via file 23.090. This measure recently passed its second debate with 47 votes in favor, addressing concerns from Attorney General Carlo Díaz Sánchez regarding the expiration of pretrial detention periods.

Entities

Costa Rica · Organismo de Investigación Judicial · El Salvador · Laura Fernández · Nayib Bukele

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] Costa Rican authorities, with DEA support, detained five suspects allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.
[● 5 SOURCES] The five detainees include three Costa Ricans, one Mexican, and one Peruvian.
[● 5 SOURCES] Police in Costa Rica seized 3 kilograms of cocaine and weapons during the Sinaloa Cartel-related operations.
[● 3 SOURCES] The Costa Rican Legislative Assembly rejected the National Electrical System Harmonization Law project. construccion.co.cr · observador.cr · www.lateja.cr
[● 2 SOURCES] The delegate assemblies of Coopenae and CoopeAnde approved a strategic integration via merger by absorption. elmundo.cr · www.riotimesonline.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Authorities in Costa Rica also detained a Panamanian national suspected of links to the Tren de Aragua criminal group.
[○ 1 SOURCE] A Panamanian national sought for six years was handed over to authorities in his home country.
[○ 1 SOURCE] A separate operation in Costa Rica resulted in the seizure of 312 kilograms of cocaine near the Panamanian border.
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Atlas Nexus operation involved authorities from 35 countries.
[○ 1 SOURCE] In Costa Rica, 375 people were detained during the operation.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Authorities seized over 27.8 tons of drugs, including 24.5 tons of cocaine and 3.2 tons of cannabis.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Seized assets included 181 firearms, 169 properties, 800 heads of cattle, and 464 pieces of jewelry.

Timeline

3 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
Costa Rica and El Salvador strengthen security and anti-narcotics alliance
Costa Rica and El Salvador have agreed to boost security cooperation, focusing on intelligence sharing and anti-narcotics efforts to combat organized crime.
5 days ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
Costa Rica Legislative Assembly passes organized crime reform
Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly approved a reform to strengthen legal tools against organized crime, following warnings regarding expiring pretrial detention deadlines.
11 days ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
Costa Rican commission approves criminal organization law
Costa Rica's Security and Narcotrafficking Commission unanimously approved a bill to increase penalties for members of criminal organizations, with sentences potentially reaching 20 years.
18 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 14 sources
Costa Rica and Peru advance security reforms and international crime cooperation
Costa Rica and Peru are advancing major security initiatives, including new high-containment prisons and international cooperation to combat organized crime, narcotics, and corruption.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 9 sources
Costa Rica faces rising organized crime as logistical hub
Costa Rica is evolving into a logistical hub for organized crime. Operation Atlas Nexus led to 375 arrests and the seizure of 27.8 tons of drugs, including the capture of high-profile fugitive 'Diablo'.
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 82 sources
Costa Rica authorities seize cocaine and detain Sinaloa Cartel suspects
Costa Rican authorities and the DEA detained five suspects allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel and seized 312 kilograms of cocaine in a separate border operation.
2 months ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Criminal gangs increasingly recruit minors in Costa Rica and Dominican Republic
Criminal organizations in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic are increasingly utilizing minors and youth gangs for violent activities, threatening regional security and local economies.

Sources

2001online.com · acontecer.co.cr · agendainformativa.com.mx · alertas24.com · alonoticias.com · altavoz.pe · amprensa.com · ascendwrestling.com · asiesnuestravida.com.ar · bavaronews.com · billieparkernoticias.com · boyacadigital.com · buenaventuraenlinea.com · caaguazunoticiasdigital.com.py · cablenoticias.tv · canal44.com · canalc.com.ar · centraldenoticiasmadariaga.com · cerolatitud.ec · closeup.mx · cronicaviva.com.pe · crprensa.com · delfino.cr · destinopanama.com.pa · diariodelsur.com.co · diariodesevilla.es · diarioextra.com · diariofirmat.com.ar · diariopanorama.com · diariorancagua.cl · ecuadorcomunicacion.com · elcomercio.com · elespectador.com · elmercurio.com.ec · elmercuriomanta.ec · elmundo.cr · elpaisdelosjovenes.com · elperiodicodemonagas.com.ve · elperiodicodeportivo.com.co · elreporterodeiquique.com · elsoldeoccidente.com · elveedordigital.com · entornointeligente.com · extra.ec · extranoticias.cl · floresdepapel.com.ar · globalinitiative.net · impactonoticiascr.com

This summary has been updated 14 times: see revision history