Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Costa Rica Extradites Two Alleged Drug Traffickers to the US
Two men who are suspected of moving illegal drugs were sent from Costa Rica to the United States to stand trial.
Their names are Gilbert Bell Fernandez, also called Macho Coca, and Gabriel Lozano, also called Compadre.
Costa Rica's top lawyer, Carlo Diaz, said the country worked with American and international police to catch them.
The United States had punished Bell, who is 62 years old, back in 2023 for helping turn Costa Rica into a big stop for drug shipments.
He was in jail in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, for stealing government fuel.
Lozano was born in Colombia and later became a citizen of Costa Rica.
Police say he used Costa Rica as a stopping point for cocaine moving from South America to markets farther north.
This extradition happened after Costa Rica passed a new law in 2025 allowing its citizens to be sent to other countries to face drug trafficking or terrorism charges.
The men now face trial in a U.S. federal court in New York.
Costa Rica extradited alleged drug traffickers Gilbert Bell Fernandez, known as Macho Coca, and Gabriel Lozano, nicknamed Compadre, to the U.S. to face charges.
Costa Rica Attorney General Carlo Diaz announced the extraditions on Thursday, Aug 13, citing cooperation with U.S. and international authorities.
Bell, 62, was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2023 for his alleged role in Costa Rica's transformation into a major narcotics transit hub and had been jailed in San Jose since 2024.
Lozano, a Colombian who obtained Costa Rican citizenship, is accused of using the country as a key transit point for cocaine from South America to northern markets.
The pair are due to face trial in U.S. federal court in New York, and about 20 Costa Rican suspects and a similar number of foreign nationals currently face extradition proceedings.
- Who
- Alleged drug traffickers Gilbert Bell Fernandez (Macho Coca) and Gabriel Lozano (Compadre), extradited under Attorney General Carlo Diaz.
- What
- Costa Rica extradited the two alleged drug traffickers to the U.S. to face charges.
- When
- The extradition was announced on Thursday, Aug 13.
- Where
- From Costa Rica to U.S. federal court in New York.
- Why
- To face charges tied to international drug trafficking, with Costa Rica used as a cocaine transit point.
- Extradited suspects
- Gilbert Bell Fernandez (Macho Coca) and Gabriel Lozano (Compadre)
- Announcement
- Costa Rica Attorney General Carlo Diaz, Thursday Aug 13
- Bell's age
- 62
- Bell's U.S. sanction
- Sanctioned in 2023 for role in transforming Costa Rica into a narcotics transit hub
- Bell's prior detention
- Jailed in San Jose since 2024 for stealing state-owned fuel
- Lozano's profile
- Colombian with Costa Rican citizenship, accused of using Costa Rica as cocaine transit point
- Trial venue
- U.S. federal court in New York
- Extradition law
- Costa Rica approved extraditing citizens on drug trafficking or terrorism charges in 2025