A Sophisticated Drug Trafficking Operation Unraveled
In a significant operation on Tuesday morning, the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) successfully dismantled an international criminal organization specializing in the exportation of liquid cocaine concealed in soft drinks to Europe and Asia. This marked a major breakthrough in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.
Coordinated Raids Across Key Locations
The OIJ conducted 22 raids across various locations, including Puntarenas, Escazú, Ipís, Goicoechea, Santa Ana, Desamparados, Pinares, La Unión, Sarapiquí, Turrialba, and Grecia. An additional operation targeted the Minerva company’s facilities, a soft drink commercialization business in Poás de Alajuela, suspected of being used as a front for the illegal operations.
Arrests and Seizures: A Blow to the Trafficking Network
In a significant clampdown, 10 out of the 12 individuals accused of international drug trafficking and money laundering were apprehended. The suspects include five Colombian nationals who have acquired Costa Rican citizenship. They are identified by the surnames Lozano Bonilla (51), Caicedo Valoi (56), Vayoles Mosquera (45), Montoya Gutiérrez (58), and Lemos Rebellón (43). The list of detainees also includes Costa Ricans Herrera Soto (44), Picado Sánchez (37), Herrera León (38), and two women, Murillo Picado (42) and Brenes Murillo (28).
A Wealth of Ill-Gotten Assets
In addition to the arrests, OIJ agents confiscated crucial evidence, 26 high-end vehicles, and 39 properties, cumulatively valued at ¢6,000 million. The organization reportedly reinvested their drug trade earnings in real estate, including a shopping center in Limonal de Guanacaste, apartment complexes, and poultry farms.
The Intricate Operation of the Drug Ring
As explained by Randall Zúñiga, director of the OIJ, the organization transported cocaine in paste form from the south and then converted it into liquid at a laboratory for export to Europe and Asia. The group’s leader, a Colombian national named Lozano, had previously been arrested and convicted in 2016 for international drug trafficking. However, he was released in 2019 with a benefit granted by the National Institute of Criminology (INC), along with five other Colombians.
Significant Drug Seizure at Jordan-Israel Border
On June 8, at the Jordan-Israel border, authorities seized a shipment from this criminal group, which included 185 bottles, equivalent to 150 liters, of liquid cocaine. According to Zúñiga, the group operated with relative ease because liquid cocaine is undetectable by scanners installed at the Limón port, a major export hub for maritime shipments.
The Clandestine Laboratory and Ongoing Investigations
Zúñiga confirmed the discovery of a clandestine laboratory in Coronado, San José, where various containers and evidence indicated the production of this illicit substance. The Police Judicial initiated investigations into this case in 2022, leading to the recent breakthrough and disruption of this extensive drug trafficking operation.
The OIJ’s extensive operation against this sophisticated drug trafficking ring has struck a significant blow to the illegal drug trade, showcasing the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts in combating international drug trafficking and related crimes.
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