World · Latin America · 6 hrs ago
Costa Rica and DEA to target alleged drug links among politicians and businesspeople
Costa Rica will deepen joint operations with the US Drug Enforcement Administration to target people suspected of drug trafficking.
Attorney General Carlo Diaz says the new phase will focus on businesspeople, professionals and politicians whose public standing may hide alleged links to the drug trade.
The earlier phase targeted members of criminal organizations, as Costa Rica has worked with the DEA to arrest dozens of traffickers.
Diaz says six Costa Ricans have been sent to the United States for prosecution, and 25 extradition proceedings are underway.
The country is a key route for moving drugs from South America to the US, and officials link trafficking to a rise in killings.
Costa Rica’s homicide rate reached 17.2 per 100,000 people in 2023, its highest level cited in the story.
Diaz says political divisions are hampering the fight, but rejects the idea of bringing US forces into Costa Rica, arguing local security forces should be given the resources to take control.
Costa Rica will deepen cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration to target alleged drug links among businesspeople, professionals and politicians.
Attorney General Carlo Diaz said the joint operations would focus on people he called “invisible drug traffickers.”
The new phase follows earlier joint missions targeting members of criminal organizations.
Diaz said Costa Rica had extradited six people to the US and had 25 more extradition proceedings underway.
He also said political and institutional divisions were hampering the fight against organized crime.
- Who
- Costa Rica and the US Drug Enforcement Administration, with Attorney General Carlo Diaz describing the plans.
- What
- They will deepen cooperation to target people with alleged links to the drug trade, including businesspeople and politicians.
- When
- Diaz discussed the plans in an interview on Thursday; the article was published on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Costa Rica.
- Why
- The operations aim to target alleged drug traffickers whose public profiles may conceal links to the drug trade.
Carlo Diaz
Laura Fernandez’s government
Use of US forces
Carlo Diaz
Diaz said Costa Rica’s security forces could take control of territory if given the resources they need, without foreign armed forces.
Laura Fernandez’s government
Fernandez suggested last month that Costa Rica could benefit from US forces operating on its territory.
Joint missions targeted members of criminal organizations.
Costa Rica’s judiciary re-elected Diaz as attorney general for another four-year term.
Diaz discussed the next phase of DEA cooperation in an interview with Reuters.
The Straits Times published its report on the planned cooperation.
- Attorney general
- Carlo Diaz
- New operations
- Second phase of DEA cooperation
- Extradited to the US
- 6 people
- Extradition proceedings underway
- 25
- Costa Rica homicide rate
- 17.2 per 100,000 people in 2023, with 906 killings
What people are saying
This second phase (of DEA cooperation) focuses on people we have termed 'invisible drug traffickers,'
These are business people, sometimes professionals or politicians, who are successful or highly visible. But behind that facade lies a direct link with these kinds of activities.
If we focus on providing the resources the security forces need, they could take control of the territory without needing to bring in armed forces from other countries,
This is one of the most complex moments in our history,