Nearly 1 Tonne of Cocaine Seized From Two Vessels off Costa Rica

January 02: Costa Rica’s first large counter-narcotics operation of the new year resulted in the seizure of nearly 1 metric ton of cocaine and a pair of marine vessels off the country’s shores.

On January 02, a coordinated effort between the Coast Guard and Public Security Ministry located an unmanned sport-fishing boat in Golfo Dulce from which authorities seized 686 packets of cocaine, each weighing approximately one kilo, and arrested a suspect ashore.

Later that night, following a tip from a United States air surveillance aircraft, the Costa Rican Coast Guard intercepted a semisubmersible vessel approximately 63 nautical miles from Quepos, Puntarenas, authorities said. The vessel was being operated by three Ecuadorians and, according to Costa Rica’s Public Security Ministry, was also being pursued by a U.S.-operated P-3 Orion airplane.

Several packages suspected of containing narcotics were found on board, and the three men were detained and brought to the Coast Guard station in Quepos. A later search of the semi-submersible located approximately 300 kilos of cocaine.

Source: Tico Times