The Dirección de Migración y Extranjería de Costa Rica (immigration service) has beefed up its controls at Paso Canoas, the Panama border, as thousands of Costa Ricans head south for tomorrow’s big game.
On Monday Migración reported some 1.250 Ticos crossed into Panama with the express purpose of attending the big game as Costa Rica and Panama battle it out, with more than 3.000 expected today and more tomorrow.
The majority are travelling on by on charters organized by bus companies.
According to local reports, the situation at the border was chaotic on Monday and expected to be worse closer to game time, even with expanded hours of operations at the border. This morning the immigration post opened at 2am instead of the usual 7am. On Wednesday the post will open at 4am.
Come Thursday and Friday, the reserve chaos will occur with fans returning home, hopefully with the joy of a win by the Costa Rican team.
Stepping up controls at the border is also the Policía de Control de Drogas (Drug police), which slows down the process of crossing the border.
