COSTA RICA NEWS — Imagine living in a house full of money, under the floors, in the walls, even the garage lined with money. Literally.
That is the case of a mechanic in Heredia, investigators finding more than US$3 million dollars in cash spread throughout the humble house located in San Lorenzo de Flores, in Heredia. Along with the cash, authorities also found 3 kilos of cocaine.
It was late Tuesday night when neighbours called police of a heated argument between several men and a gunshot. Responding to the call, police found the man, identified by his last name Jiménez, a local mechanic, with a gunshot wound. He is currently in the San Vicente de Paul hospital in critical condition.
The director of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), Franciso Segura, said investigators got curious at the raised floors and a package, appearing to be filled with cocaine, under the table. In fact it was cash.
After obtaining a search warrant, authorities found cash in vacuum sealed packets all over the house and garage. Each package had a note indicating the amount it held, adding to a little over US$3 million dollars.
Witnesses told police that they had overheard two men in a vehicle arguing with their neighbour, yelling about getting their money and then heard gunfire.
The house where Jiménez lived with his mother was nondescript, similar to the others houses in the middle class Heredia barrio.
Once the victim, Jiménez recovers, he will face charges of money laundering, and could spend from eight and 20 years in prison if convicted.
Thursday morning, under heavy security, an armoured bank truck escorted by an elite police force,the money was transferred to the vault of a downtown state bank, where court officials will do a final count.