The Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) and the Special Support Unit (UEA) of the Public Force carried out, starting at 4 am this Tuesday, 25 raids to dismantle a criminal organization, apparently, dedicated to international drug trafficking. The case was named by authorities as Furtive and the investigation was launched at the beginning of 2025.
Furtive Case: OIJ carries out 25 raids
It is presumed that the group coordinated the entry of drugs from the southern area of Costa Rica and carried out its transfer to Guanacaste.
“According to the investigations, these transfers were carried out using vehicles that had hidden compartments, which would have been modified in order to minimize the risk of detection by the police authorities,” indicated the Judicial Police.
Furtive Case: OIJ carries out 25 raids to dismantle a gang suspected of international drug trafficking
Once there, by controlling clandestine cluesApparently, they sent the drugs to the United States, Guatemala and Mexico by air. According to the report provided by the Judicial Police, the group worked in coordination with several criminal organizations in the country.
The objective of the authorities was the arrest of at least 10 alleged members of this organization, business intervention and asset seizure.
Furtive Case: OIJ carries out 25 raids
Seventeen of the operations are carried out in the southern zone, specifically in the San Vito district, in Coto Brus de Puntarenas. There, the arrest of two Costa Ricans, with surnames Jiménez Hernández and Guerra Salazar.
Three other operations were carried out in a hangar in Guanacaste, where the discovery of two small planes was confirmed, and several more interventions in Alajuela, San José and Barva de Heredia. On this last point The home of a Colombian national was raidedsuspected of coordinating logistics within the organization.
camouflaged plane
The suspects are linked to the discovery, in January 2025, of a Cessna-type plane with traces of drugs on a farm in the town of Piedras Blancas in the canton of Nicoya, in Guanacaste.
Officers from the Air Surveillance Service (SVA) found the aircraft parked next to a clandestine runway, camouflaged with saran among the vegetation.
According to the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, it had a false registration number and, as reported at that time by the Ministry of Public Security, inside the ship there were several fuel tankers.
Although no drug shipment was found, the Police confirmed that “traces of contamination” were found and explained that this indicated that At some point he carried narcotics.
Then a man was arrested who tried to flee from the police in a vehicle. pick-upbut a coordinated action between the Public Force and Air Surveillance allowed his arrest.
Small plane on clandestine runway
Finding of two small planes
During the operations this Tuesday, the agents found two small planes inside a hangar in the province of Guanacaste.
The aircraft found correspond to a Cessna 182 Skylanean American four-seat, single-engine light aircraft. Furthermore, a Cessna T182T Turbo Skylanealso single-engine and four-seater.
The Judicial Police explained, at 9:42 am, that a flattened property with a track that was in order was located at the location; However, it was intervened because during the investigation it was found that the suspects had rented the runway and hangar.
After inquiries from this medium, The OIJ indicated that the small planes are also in order and would not be linked to any of the suspects.
Money laundering
Juan Pablo Calvo, from the criminal investigations department of the Judicial Police, indicated that the Public Ministry considers the opening of a parallel process by capital legitimation.
It is presumed that the subjects used legal companies, such as vehicle sales, agricultural production and construction companies to launder money from drug trafficking.
According to Calvo, these economic activities functioned as a screen to appear legal, while the organization was allegedly dedicated to facilitate the transfer of drugs to the north of Central America.
“The Public Ministry is considering starting, as part of this investigation, a parallel process for money launderingsince this organization used some apparently legal companies such as vehicle sales, agricultural production such as coffee, including what were properly construction issues,” Calvo explained.
Detainees and seizures
Among the detainees are several individuals who, apparently, performed custody, security and logistical coordination functions within the alleged criminal structure.
According to the Judicial Police, seven people were captured: three men aged 41 and 43, and four women aged 25, 26, 29 and 32.
During the raids, apparent drugs, vehicles with alterations to their bodywork, high-end vehicles and cash were seized.
Finally, the detainees will be placed at the disposal of the Public Ministry, which will define their legal situation in accordance with due process.
*Journalist Yucsiany Salazar collaborated.
