[REVISION HISTORY]

US‑Costa Rica drug extradition efforts

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-14 04:51 UTC → 2026-08-29 08:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In mid‑July 2026, the United States requested that Costa Rica and Guatemala hand over individuals linked to major drug cartels. In Costa Rica, four suspects associated with the Sinaloa Cartel were arrested with a large cocaine shipment, while Guatemala detained 29 people, including a figure known as “Cala, Calamardo or Tornado Nuevo.” On 23 July, Costa Rica transferred Colombian national John Céspedes Yanes, accused of a leadership role in the Clan del Golfo, to the United States. Following this, Costa Rican authorities moved toward the extradition of businessman Gilbert Bell Fernández, known as “Macho Coca,” and Gabriel Lozano Bonilla, alias “Compadre.” Fernández, who had previously faced U.S. Treasury sanctions, was held on charges involving the theft of state-owned fuel. Lozano Bonilla, a Colombian national with Costa Rican citizenship, is linked to “Caso Corona,” an investigation into a network that processed cocaine into liquid form to hide it within beverages for export. On 13 August, Costa Rica completed the extradition of both men to face trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on charges of international drug trafficking and conspiracy. The transfers were carried out via a DEA aircraft that stopped in the Bahamas. Costa Rican Attorney General Carlo Diaz noted that the extraditions resulted from close cooperation with the DEA. During the process, Fernández expressed relief at being extradited, claiming he feared for his life due to extreme conditions at the La Reforma prison. Attorney General Diaz indicated that allegations of potential human rights violations and mistreatment within the prison will be investigated. The extradition of Fernández was facilitated by 2025 Costa Rican legislation allowing the extradition of citizens for drug trafficking and terrorism, alongside diplomatic guarantees from the U.S. regarding his treatment.

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