Top 10 Costa Rica

Cocaine confiscations rise at Juan Santamaría

The total amount of cocaine caught being smuggled through Juan Santamaría International Airport, Costa Rica’s principal airport northwest of San José, has jumped from a little more than nine kilograms in 2008 to 209 kg this year, the Public Security Ministry said Monday.

The rise has coincided with increased efforts by narcotics police force and Costa Rica’s increasing presence on the drug-trafficking route.

So far this year authorities have caught 56 people carrying drugs through Juan Santamaría, the ministry said in a news release.

The latest capture was a 25-year-old Israeli male with four packages of cocaine taped to his legs.

Of the total 56 detained this year, 45 were foreign, hailing from countries ranging from Guatemala, Israel, Lithuania, Spain, South Africa and the United States.