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