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☆ Costa Rica Arrests Ex-Panama Presidential Hopeful Tied to Money Laundering Case
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SAN JOSE/PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Costa Rican police on Tuesday arrested Panamanian businessman and former presidential hopeful David Ochy on charges of fraud and money laundering, judicial authorities said on Tuesday, following an Interpol request. Ochy was wanted by Interpol for being central to a case linked to former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, who was in July sentenced to over a decade in prison for money laundering. Ochy enrolled as a presidential pre-candidate for Martinelli's Realizing Goals party ahead of the 2024 vote, which protected him from facing trial in the Martinelli case last summer. Ochy faces criminal charges for money laundering and using a fraudulent Costa Rican identity card, Zuniga said. Carlo Diaz, who heads Costa Rica's state attorney's office, said he could be extradited to neighboring Panama though he must first face criminal proceedings in Costa Rica and could even serve a prison sentence there.

Persons: David Ochy, Ochy, Ricardo Martinelli, Martinelli, Randall Zuniga, Zuniga, Carlo Diaz, Javier Caraballo, Alvaro Murillo, Elida Moreno, Sarah Morland, Sandra Maler Organizations: JOSE, PANAMA CITY, Tuesday, Interpol, Central American Locations: PANAMA, Costa Rican, Panamanian, Costa Rica, Rican, Caribbean, Pococi, Costa Rica's, Panama, San Jose, Panama City

☆ Costa Rica makes first-ever fentanyl gang arrests
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Alvaro Murillo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Four suspects were taken into custody, two Costa Ricans and two Colombians, along with 1,100 fentanyl pills in an operation backed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that included raids in three towns in central Costa Rica, Security Minister Mario Zamora said at a press conference. The arrests "raises alarms because it confirms the presence of fentanyl" in Costa Rica, said Zamora. As of last month, Costa Rican authorities had been carrying out 10 fentanyl investigations since last year, according to government data. Violent crime in Costa Rica has surged this year with homicides at a record, and the growth blamed on gang turf battles over the country's role as a major transit point for the illicit trade. The fentanyl arrests come as around 70% of Costa Ricans disapprove of President Rodrigo Chaves' crime fighting record, according to a recent poll.

Persons: Mario Zamora, Zamora, Rodrigo Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, David Alire Garcia, Bill Berkrot Organizations: JOSE, Costa Ricans, U.S . Drug Enforcement Administration, Thomson Locations: Costa Rican, United States, Costa Rica, Honduras, Costa Ricans

☆ Costa Rica arrests 8 bank employees in probe of $6 million heist
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Alvaro Murillo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The National Bank of Costa Rica's headquarters are pictured in San Jose, Costa Rica February 12, 2020. The 3.3 billion colones ($6.2 million) in question were first detected missing at the National Bank of Costa Rica in August through internal audits, and last month the attorney general's office announced an investigation. The principal suspect is a low-level bank employee accused of robbing cash and stashing it away in paper bags out of sight from security cameras, investigators said. This seems like something out of a movie (…) This is not a robbery from the National Bank, it is a robbery from Costa Ricans." ($1 = 528.8750 colones)Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Juan Carlos Ulate, saddens, Bernardo Alfaro, Alfaro, General Carlo Diaz, Rodrigo Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, Brendan O'Boyle, David Gregorio Our Organizations: National Bank of Costa, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, National Bank of, Authorities, bank's, Central American Bank for Economic Integration, National Bank, Thomson Locations: National Bank of Costa Rica's, San Jose, Costa Rica, MEXICO, Costa Rican, National Bank of Costa Rica, Costa Ricans

☆ Costa Rica, Honduras Agree to End Visa Rules and Ease Trade
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Earlier this month, Costa Rica introduced mandatory visa requirements for Hondurans seeking to enter, saying the measure was needed to boost security, which prompted reciprocal action from Tegucigalpa. Earlier this year, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves proposed a set of security measures in response to surging crime, including a record-setting pace for murders. Costa Rican police have attributed rising violence to an uptick in international criminal groups trafficking drugs to the United States. Specifically, Costa Ricans seeking to enter Honduras will need a certificate showing their criminal records, while Hondurans seeking to enter Costa Rica will need a certificate detailing any police record. (Reporting by Alvaro Murillo in Costa Rica; Additional reporting by Gustavo Palencia in Tegucigalpa; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Leslie Adler)

Persons: Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Xiomara Castro, Gerardo Torres, Alvaro Murillo, Gustavo Palencia, Sarah Morland, David Alire Garcia, Leslie Adler Organizations: JOSE, Central, Costa, Honduran Locations: Costa Rica, Honduras, Central American, Tegucigalpa, Costa Rican, Central America, United States, Costa Ricans

A European Union flag flutters outside the congress palace ahead of the European Political Community summit in Granada, Spain, October 4, 2023. The council said all three jurisdictions either lacked tax information or failed to deliver on commitments regarding governance and transparency reforms. Barring Russia, it said in a statement, the EU list only includes "small and vulnerable countries like Belize yet fails to include any EU member state" which were given the same Global Forum rating. Oxfam's EU tax expert Chiara Putaturo also slammed the list as "toothless" for not screening the United States, the UK, or EU states such as Luxembourg and Malta, adding "countries deemed too big to be listed can no longer escape scrutiny." The EU Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Jon Nazca, Chiara Putaturo, Sarah Morland, Alvaro Murillo, Jose Sanchez, Bill Berkrot, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, OECD's, Transparency, Information, EU, Marshall, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Seychelles, Caribbean, Belize, Antigua, Barbuda, Russia, Panama, EU, United States, Luxembourg, Malta, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Mexico City, San Jose, Belmopan

☆ Chinese embassy criticizes Costa Rica for 5G company restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A sign for 5G is seen at the World 5G Exhibition in Beijing, China November 22, 2019. The Chinese embassy in San Jose criticized the remarks in a statement. "These comments gravely affect the confidence and expectations of Chinese companies to undertake economic-trade activities in Costa Rica and they erode the good energy to develop bilateral relations," the embassy wrote in a statement. In August, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves approved a decree aiming to regulate 5G mobile network development and banned firms from countries that have not agreed to an international cybercrime convention. Chaves issued the directive shortly after Laura Richardson, a senior U.S. military commander, visited Costa Rica, where she questioned growing Chinese investment in Latin American infrastructure development including ports and 5G networks.

Persons: Jason Lee, Costa, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Laura Richardson, Alvaro Murillo, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, JOSE, Central American, Costa, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Costa Rican, San Jose, Costa Rica, South Korea, Russia, Brazil, U.S

☆ Costa Rica to declare state of emergency amid migrant surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAN JOSE, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves said on Tuesday that he has ordered officials to declare a state of emergency as the number of migrants passing through the small Central American nation has risen sharply. "I have instructed the security ministry to take a firm stance with anyone who takes Costa Rica's kindness for weakness," Chaves said at a press conference, referencing recent riots by migrants crossing the country. So far in September, more than 60,000 people have passed through the Costa Rican border town shared with Panama, Paso Canoas, where fewer than 20,000 people live, another official said. Costa Rica's Chaves will visit Panama in early October to hold discussions on the migrant crisis. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Anthony Esposito and Brendan O'BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Costa, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Costa Rica's Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, Valentine Hilaire, Anthony Esposito, Brendan O'Boyle Organizations: JOSE, Central, Thomson Locations: Costa Rican, Panama, Paso Canoas

☆ Costa Rica's homicide rate rises in deadliest year ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People cross the street, one day after Costa Ricans elected Carlos Alvarado Quesada, as the new president, in San Jose, Costa Rica April 2, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSAN JOSE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - More than 656 people have been killed so far in Costa Rica's deadliest year on record, official homicide data showed on Friday, though the government expects this figure to soar past 900 by the end of this year. Costa Rica's homicides hit a record 654 last year according to the historically peaceful Central American country's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). The national rate for violent deaths is set to rise to 16 per 100,000 people this year, from 12.6 in 2022. Costa Rica's security minister Mario Zamora told Reuters in a statement that there are no "magic" and short-term responses to tackle crime in the country, and that it would need a series of security and prevention initiative.

Persons: Carlos Alvarado Quesada, Juan Carlos Ulate, Costa, Randall Zuniga, Mario Zamora, Zamora, Laura Chinchilla's, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, Carolina Pulice, Sarah Morland Organizations: Costa Ricans, REUTERS, JOSE, Judicial Investigation Agency, Central, Authorities, Reuters, Central American, Thomson Locations: San Jose, Costa Rica, Costa Rica's, Jose, Caribbean, Limon, Colombia, United States, Europe

☆ Intel to invest $1.2 bln in Costa Rica over next two years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A smartphone with a displayed Intel logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSAN JOSE, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Intel (INTC.O) will invest $1.2 billion in Costa Rica over the next two years, the company said in a press release on Wednesday. The announcement comes after the U.S. State Department said in July that it would partner with Costa Rica's government to support the Costa Rican semiconductor sector through the 2022 Chips and Science Act. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Isabel WoodfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Costa, Alvaro Murillo, Brendan O'Boyle, Isabel Woodford Organizations: REUTERS, JOSE, Intel, U.S . State Department, Costa, Science, Thomson Locations: Costa Rica, Costa Rican

☆ Costa Rica prosecutor opens case into president for 'influence peddling'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves Robles attends the session "Leadership for Latin America" during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 in Davos, Switzerland, January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File PhotoSAN JOSE, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Costa Rica's top prosecutor has opened a case against President Rodrigo Chaves and various other government officials for allegations of "influence peddling," the Attorney General's office confirmed on Tuesday. The Attorney General's office said it could not comment further because the case was in a preliminary "private" stage. It is the prosecutor's second investigation involving Chaves in less than a month, following a July 17 probe over an alleged abuse of power. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo, Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Valentine Hilaire and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Costa, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Arnd, Costa Rica's, Rodrigo Chaves, Leonel Baruch, Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, Isabel Woodford, Valentine Hilaire, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Economic, REUTERS, JOSE, Agence France, Presse, Thomson Locations: America, Davos, Switzerland, AFP

☆ Drug onslaught pushes violence to record levels in Costa Rica: Security Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Alvaro Murillo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Costa Rica closed 2022 with a record 656 murders. In parts of Costa Rica, authorities are seeing violence synonymous with Mexican cartels like torture, gang killings, and assassinations carried out by highly trained hitmen. In May, Chaves named as security minister Zamora, who also held the post under the 2010-2014 presidency of Laura Chinchilla, and has a reputation for being tough on crime. Zamora said the situation was very different to when he was first security minister. The measures are due to be rolled out across Costa Rica by 2025.

Persons: We've, Mario Zamora, Costa, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Zamora, Laura Chinchilla, Moin, Alvaro Murillo, Diego Ore, Sarah Kinosian, Stephen Coates Organizations: JOSE, Costa, Costa Rican Security, Reuters, Costa Ricans, Central American, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Colombia, Costa Rica, Costa Rican, Sinaloa, Central America, Europe, Costa Rica's, Limon, Costa

☆ Costa Rica charges former president Solis with corruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAN JOSE, July 6 (Reuters) - Costa Rica said on Thursday it has charged former President Luis Guillermo Solis with corruption, accusing him of involvement in a 2017 improper transfer of government funds to state-owned Bancredito. Solis, who governed between 2014 and 2018, denied the charges. "I categorically reject the charges that have been brought against me," the former center-left leader said in a video posted on Twitter. "I know I did not commit any crime," he said in a text message to Reuters. "This is a case that has already been prosecuted," he wrote in a text message, saying he would not comment further.

Persons: Luis Guillermo Solis, Solis, Helios Fallas, Sergio Alfaro, Alfaro, Fallas, Alvaro Murillo, Brendan O'Boyle, Edwina Gibbs, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: JOSE, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Costa Rica

☆ World Bank green lights $500 mln loan to boost Costa Rica's budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAN JOSE, June 16 (Reuters) - The World Bank approved a new $500 million loan to Costa Rica aimed at strengthening support for the government's budget, according to a statement from the international lender released on Friday. The loan will support the Central American country's post-pandemic efforts to grow employment and wages and assist small and medium-sized companies. "While Costa Rica has made much progress in the environmental, economic, and social spheres, the reduction of poverty and inequality remains an ongoing challenge," Carine Clert, World Bank country manager for El Salvador and Costa Rica, said in a statement announcing the new financing package. The 19.5 year loan includes a four-year grace period, with an interest rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus a variable margin in U.S. dollars, the statement added. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by David Alire GarciaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alvaro Murillo, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia Organizations: JOSE, World Bank, Central American, Bank, El, Thomson Locations: Costa Rica, El Salvador

☆ World Bank green lights $500 million loan to boost Costa Rica's budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Persons: Alvaro Murillo, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia Organizations: JOSE, World Bank, Central American, Bank, El, Thomson Locations: Costa Rica, El Salvador

☆ Costa Rica president gets tougher on security as crime soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN JOSE, April 19 (Reuters) - Costa Rica's president on Wednesday presented a set of security measures in response to surging crime rates in the Central American country, which is currently on track this year to beat 2022's record murder rate. Costa Rica ended 2022 with a record 12.6 homicides per 100,000 residents, according to the judicial research agency OIJ. "We are going to mend the course we lost a long time ago," said Chaves, a week after criticizing those who condemned the security crisis. The country's main business chamber on Friday called for a state of "national emergency," fearing a hit to foreign investment and tourism. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Isabel Woodford and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Human rights court begins review of high-stakes El Salvador abortion case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mayela LopezSAN JOSE/SAN SALVADOR, March 22 (Reuters) - The Inter-American Court of Human Rights on Wednesday began hearing the historic case of a Salvadoran woman who was denied an abortion in 2013 despite doctors' calls to terminate her high-risk pregnancy. They recommended an abortion but would not perform the procedure given El Salvador's severe prohibition. Beatriz appealed to the Supreme Court and the IACHR, but the Salvadoran court rejected her request and in June 2013 she underwent a C-section. The court's public hearing, which is being held in San Jose, Costa Rica until Thursday, was marked by both anti-abortion protests and demonstrations of support for Beatriz. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo in San Jose and Nelson Renteria in San Salvador; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Costa Rica says China apologizes for balloon 'incident' over its airspace
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAN JOSE, Feb 6 (Reuters) - China apologized to Costa Rica for a balloon that flew over its territory, the Central American country's government said on Monday, after a separate suspected Chinese spy balloon traveling over the United States sparked a major political and diplomatic spat. According to a brief statement from Costa Rica's foreign ministry, the Chinese government recognized that one of its balloons flew over Costa Rica, and China's embassy in San Jose "apologized for the incident," while insisting the balloon was focused on scientific research, mainly weather studies. Costa Rican officials were told by Chinese officials the balloon flight path deviated from its original plan and it had a limited ability to correct the error, according to the statement. A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman told reporters at a news conference in Beijing on Monday that the balloon spotted in Latin America was used for civilian purposes. Planes were notified at the time, but no further action was taken, according to the civil aviation director.

☆ Colombian military spots balloon-like object in its airspace
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 5 (Reuters) - A day before a U.S. military jet shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon, Colombia's military confirmed a sighting over its territory of an airborne object similar to a balloon. U.S. military officials on Friday said a Chinese balloon was spotted somewhere over Latin America but did not specify its location. The Colombian statement did not mention China or any other country as the balloon's origin. The statement added that the object exhibited "characteristics similar to those of a balloon," and that the air force monitored it until it left Colombian airspace. The saga of the Chinese balloon, downed off of the U.S. Atlantic coast on Saturday, captivated public attention for days, and was widely seen as worsening U.S.-China relations.

☆ Costa Rica's economic growth seen slowing down this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAN JOSE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Costa Rica's economic growth will likely slow this year, according to a central bank forecast released on Tuesday that also estimates faster growth in 2024. The central bank sees gross domestic product growing 2.7% this year and 3.5% in 2024. Income from tourism, a key sector, had increased from a year ago, as had exports, the central bank said. "The performance of economic activity had a positive impact on business and consumer confidence," it said. By 2024, the inflation rate should drop and economic activity was likely to pick up steam, the bank added.

☆ Costa Rica seeks entry to North America trade pact
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN JOSE, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Costa Rica has told the United States it is interested in joining the North American trade pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada, President Rodrigo Chaves said on Wednesday. Dodd said he had spoken with Chaves about opportunities to boost economic ties, but made no comment on a possible entry for Costa Rica into the North American trade pact. "We are evaluating opportunities," said Tovar, adding membership in the trade pact would give Costa Rica an "immense advantage" and add another strategic link to global supply chains. The United States is Costa Rica's largest trading partner, according to the U.S. State Department, accounting for 38% of Costa Rica's imports and 42% of exports. The Central American country has 10 bilateral and five multilateral trade agreements in force.

☆ Costa Rica cenbank raises 2022 growth projection to 4.3% as tourism recovers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAN JOSE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Costa Rica's economy is expected to grow 4.3% in 2022, its central bank said on Monday, an upgrade to an earlier projection from boosts expected in tourism and business services. The new estimate for 2022 growth domestic product (GDP) improves on last July's projection by 0.9 percentage points. The central bank, however, also reduced the growth outlook for 2023 from 3.2% to 2.7% because of challenges in the global economy. Costa Rica's economy grew 7.8% last year as it recovered from a 2020 recession brought on by COVID-19 damage to the country's ecotourism. Tourism authorities expect 2 million visitors in 2022, just two-thirds of the 3 million arrivals in 2019, but above the 1.35 million reported for last year.

☆ Costa Rican authorities find wreckage believed to be from plane carrying five Germans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAN JOSE, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Costa Rican authorities said they found wreckage on Saturday believed to be from a plane carrying five German citizens which lost contact along the Caribbean coast. The wreckage was located early on Saturday morning about 17 miles (28 kilometers) from the country's Limon airport, Costa Rica's deputy security minister said. Authorities had not yet located any bodies or survivors. Costa Rican authorities received an alert on Friday night about the missing plane, chartered for a private flight, which was en route from Mexico to Costa Rica's Limon airport, Security Minister Jorge Torres said earlier. The aircraft had lost communication with the control tower near Barra de Parismina, a few minutes from Limon, according to Torres.

☆ Bus crashes in Costa Rica, nine dead and 55 rescued
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Members of the Red Cross and firefighters work at the scene of a deadly bus accident, where a landslide reportedly hit the vehicle, throwing it off a cliff, in Cambronero, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica in this social media handout image released September 18, 2022. Cruz Roja/Handout via REUTERSRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterSAN JOSE, Sept 18 (Reuters) - A bus crash caused by heavy rains in Costa Rica left nine dead people on Saturday night, officials said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterHundreds of families had to be evacuated due to the severe damage caused by the heavy rains, the statement added. "This situation in which many families lose their belongings is really sad and worrying," said Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves, who decreed on Sunday a three-day mourning. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by William Mallard, Lisa Shumaker and Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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