A 49-year-old man surnamed Molina Restrepo, was arrested Tuesday at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), after it was found that he was carrying US$226,605 hidden in the double lining of a suitcase.
The arrest was made by officers of the Drug Control Police (PCD) at the time when the man, a native of Colombia and naturalized Costa Rican, intended to board a flight to Bolivia, confirmed the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública (MSP).
According to reports provided by the PCD, Molina was to board a flight to Panama and Bolivia as his final destination. In addition to the dollars he was carrying ¢2,000 colones in cash.
The money was confiscated and the man transferred to the Alajuela Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalia), where he will be charged with legitimizing capital, that is punishable from 8 to 20 years in prison.