Q COSTARICA — Former judge, minister, and high-ranking political figure, Celso Gamboa, will remain in prison while his case proceeds in U.S. courts.
Gamboa, the first Costa Rican to be extradited to the United States, and Edwin López Vega, the second, have been denied bail or house arrest while awaiting trial.
Both Costa Ricans are being tried in the United States for the alleged crime of international drug trafficking.
In a press statement, the Eastern District Court of Texas set the venue and key dates for the criminal proceedings: a pretrial hearing, scheduled for May 27, 2026, and jury selection and the start of the trial for Monday, June 1, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.