QCOSTARICA — The growth of drug trafficking groups in the country is causing Costa Rica to challenge Mexico for first place in the region in cocaine transshipment to the United States and Europe, according to a report by The New York Times on Sunday under the title “How a tourist paradise became a magnet for drug trafficking.”
The newspaper cites as a source the report called “Integrated Country Strategy,” which was prepared by the United States Department of State in 2022.
The document reports that Costa Rica surpassed Mexico in 2020 and 2021 as the main cocaine transshipment center, while in 2022 Mexico regained first place.
– Advertisement –
Violence and homicides resulting from drug trafficking threaten to damage Costa Rica’s paradisiacal and “Pura Vida” image. Murders have already reached a historic record for the country. At the same time, the bloodbath, the product of a war between drug trafficking gangs, with professional hitmen and teenagers involved in the drug business, extends practically throughout the country.
Read more: Legislator Sofia Guillén: Costa Rica lives in a narco-state
The situation has not gone unnoticed outside Costa Rica and, therefore, major international media have dedicated part of their efforts to reporting what is happening in the tropical paradise of Costa Rica.
For example, the Chicago Tribune pointed out that Costa Rica is the new paradise for drug trafficking and not so much for tourists at the end of last year.
“Drug traffickers have found a vast paradise in the mangroves and jungles, with few inhabitants and little police surveillance, which they can use as a staging post for the cocaine they transport from South America to the United States. They have also begun to take increasing advantage of the fertile land to plant marijuana among the almond and cedar trees there. Costa Rica does not have an army, and this incursion into its territory has put lightly armed forest guards at the forefront of the war against drug trafficking, while at the same time they must prevent hikers from encountering any unpleasant surprises,” said the media.
Similar information has been published in recent months by the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, the New York Post, and CBS News, as well as El País of Spain in its international edition. These are media outlets aimed at the target audience in terms of attracting tourism.
– Advertisement –
“Although Costa Rica has been a model of progressive democracy for many years in Latin America, it is now grappling with a jump in violence, driven by a little-discussed phenomenon that is afflicting several Latin American countries. Now, this former haven of tranquility is grappling with a jump in violence. Once mere way stations for illegal drugs headed to the United States or Europe, they are suffering their own problems of abuse,” The Washington Post said.
Homicides are a serious problem
If the average rate of murders during the last four months of the year is maintained, 2024 will see a slight reduction in homicide cases compared to last year.
However, it is also true that the emergency generated by the war between drug trafficking gangs for territory and trafficking routes is far from over.
With an average of 2.3 homicides per day between January 1 and September 10, Costa Rica would end with about 864 murders this year, while in 2023 there were 907.
– Advertisement –
Despite the reduction, it would be the second-worst record in history.
“Amid a critical situation generated by insecurity, focused on homicides and mainly homicides related to contract killing, it is important to point out that the police and the government of the Republic are doing their best. The police is the fourth most valued institution within the government and is doing everything possible to contain the problem,” said Mario Zamora, Minister of Security.
– Advertisement –
Source link
Rico
