Q COSTARICA — At the second meeting of the Fuerza Élite (Elite Force) team, Costa Rican President Laura Fernández outlined a plan of coordinated actions to combat the rise of organized crime in the country.
According to the president, an agreement was reached to promote a bill that will establish severe penalties for owners of properties where clandestine airstrips are discovered. The government has identified approximately two hundred airstrips in Costa Rican territory, many of which are unregulated and lack effective penalties.
Fernández explained that “today there are around two hundred airstrips in the country, many of them clandestine, and unfortunately, we don’t have strong sanctions.” The proposed legislation will seek to fill this legal void and provide authorities with the tools to combat illicit activities facilitated by the existence of these infrastructures.
The session was attended by key security officials, including the Minister of Public Security, Gerald Campos, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Communication. Fernández asserted that the decisions made stem from a comprehensive review of national security issues, prioritizing aerial surveillance and inter-institutional cooperation.
The Policía de Control de Drogas (PCD)—Drug Control Police, discussed the obstacles to seizing vehicles linked to criminal activities. The government pledged to work with the Ministerio Público (Public Prosecutor’s Office) and the Judiciary to ensure the immediate transfer of seized vehicles to judicial authorities, guaranteeing that the chain of custody is respected and reducing vulnerability to corruption or loss of evidence.
“We will file requests with the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the judicial branch in general, so that in seizures involving vehicles, they are transferred to the judicial authorities under the appropriate chain of custody,” President Fernández stated.
Another agreement announced was the improvement of air surveillance protocols at airports, to strengthen the detection of drugs and chemical precursors.
These measures aim to place Costa Rica “at the forefront of drug detection at our airports,” in the president’s words. Strengthening controls is considered key in the fight against drug trafficking and transnational criminal networks.
Regarding the prison system, Fernández indicated that the protocols of the national prison system will be modified. The objective is to eradicate permissive practices that have led to unsanitary conditions and risks within the detention centers. Strict rules will be established for the handling of packages, one of the recurring channels for the entry of prohibited objects and substances into prisons.
The president also announced the implementation of a polygraph testing program for members of the Elite Force team. The first group to undergo the evaluation will consist of the ministers who attend the event, as part of the commitment to transparency and integrity within the security teams.
“Today I instructed the first group of Elite Force members who will undergo polygraph testing. We will begin with the ministers: the Minister of Communication, the Minister of Justice and Peace, and, of course, the Minister of Public Security, Gerald Campos,” Fernández stated.
The government will keep the public informed about the progress and results of the Elite Force team, which is becoming the core of the strategy to combat organized crime in the country.
“We continue to confront this crusade against organized crime in the country,” the president concluded.