Costa Rica finds ton of cocaine, arrests Mexicans

[cory777]

Source: Reuters

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) - Costa Rican police seized around a ton of cocaine and arrested two suspected Mexican traffickers on Friday in the latest sign Mexican gangs are stepping up their use of the country as a storage point.

Police found 2,139 pounds (969 kg) of cocaine stashed at a rural house near the Pacific coast northwest of San Jose, and arrested two Mexican nationals at the scene. They are believed to be members of Mexico's Juarez cartel, the public security ministry said.

President-elect Laura Chinchilla, a former security minister who won a landslide election victory on Sunday, has said combating Mexican drug gangs operating in Costa Rica will be a priority when she takes power in May.

A three-year army crackdown on drug gangs in Mexico has encouraged some traffickers to push south into Central America, setting up bases in countries like Guatemala as they seek new routes to smuggle South American cocaine to the United States.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61B5L320100212

[carla]

1. Costa Rica has always been a peaceful place.

If the new president doesn't proceed correctly, the drug gangs will try to destabilize us. Best of luck to Pres. Chinchilla and a wish that she consider drug decriminalization. BTW, her stint as security minister was less than successful according to my Tico friends in government.

[paulsby]

2. it's a tough situation

i've visited costa rica several times (mainly to surf) and it is a peaceful, beautiful country.

if these cartels start taking advantage of it, it could get really ugly.

drug decriminalization as normally understood would not legalize trafficking like these people are doing.

[roody]

3. Hopefully decriminalization will reduce the profitability.

[paulsby]

4. how?

they are using costa rica as a WAYPOINT. they arent making their $$$ selling in costa rica, t hey are using as a dropoff distribution point for taking to mexico and the US where the real $$$ is

[Vincardog]

5. If any adult could walk into the local pharmacy, sign their name and put down $100/gram for their

stuff. There would be no market for the illegal trade.

[paulsby]

6. you're missing my point

my point was that whatever COSTA RICA does vis a vis legalization/decrim will have no effect because their market is not costa rica. their market is the US/Mexico.

and even if costa rica decrims etc. i doubt they would do it for trafficking large quantities. and as long as trafficking remained illegal, the violent trade to control it in costa rica or elsewhere will continue

[Vincardog]

9. you're missing my point I am talking about buying it in the USA.

[paulsby]

10. in that case, i agree with you

i am against the drug war

[truthisfreedom]

7. Not gonna happen in our lifetime.

[Alias Dictus Tyrant]

8. From the headline, I wondered if the cocaine and Mexicans were related.