Historically considered one of the safest countries in Central America due to its low crime rates, Costa Rica has seen this scenario change in recent years with the increase in the activity of criminal groups.
Recently, authorities expanded their operations targeting the South Caribbean Cartel, which was classified as the first transnational criminal organization to originate in the country.
The group was discovered on November 4 during a police action, which resulted in the arrest of almost 30 people and the seizure of almost 14 tons of drugs, mainly cocaine, in addition to 68 large-caliber weapons, seven luxury condominiums, 40 properties and 73 vehicles and boats.
Investigations published by the local press indicate that the South Caribbean Cartel counted on the help of senior government officials to operate inside and outside the country.
According to the think tank Insight Crimethe criminal organization had a network of associates who worked within Costa Rica and throughout Latin America, the United States and Europe.
The country’s first transnational criminal group managed to expand its control over the drug market in just a few years.
Led by brothers Luis Manuel, also known as “Shock”, and Kevin Picado Grijalba, nicknamed “Noni”, the South Caribbean Cartel is currently considered the main distributor of marijuana and cocaine in Costa Rica. In just four years, according to Insight Crimethe criminal group evolved from a local gang into a transnational organization.
This growth occurred through alliances with other criminals known internally, in addition to strong political and business connections in Costa Rica, which helped the cartel to have broad access to trafficking routes and contacts.
Authorities also tracked that members of the criminal organization made several trips to Panama, Colombia, Nicaragua, the United States, France and Mexico in recent years.
According to government investigations, the group traffics drugs by air, using countries such as the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico and the United States as a bridge.
Internally, the cartel relied on a network of gunmen to consolidate its territorial control, according to information from the Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ, in its Spanish acronym).
The United States is already aware of the growth of the crime organization and the Costa Rican group, specifically. The brothers considered leaders of the criminal organization are wanted by Washington, which recently announced the fight against organized crime as one of its priorities in Latin America.
