Q COSTARICA — The decision of opposition parties, the Frente Amplio (FA) and Partido Liberiación Nacional (PLN), to oppose the opening of the electricity market through the market harmonization initiative (Ley de Armonización del Sistema Eléctrico Nacional) led President Laura Fernández to accuse the legislators of both parties of being communists.
Referring to this issue, Fernández also called the opposition legislators “vagrants,” while also stating that José María Villalta, head of the FA’s congressional bloc, is actually the leader of the PLN.
At the same time, a visibly annoyed Fernández asserted that “I hope they disappear” and indicated that the PLN has committed political fraud against the voters and the Costa Rican people.
“You already know what communism and the left do to countries; they destroy everything in their path. You saw the examples of Venezuela and Cuba. In this discussion, the Frente Amplio and Liberación Nacional, thank God, have finally shown their true colors. What we have here is a bunch of communists—listen carefully—people who want to lead Costa Rica to the blackouts of Cuba or to what is, unfortunately, Venezuela, because communists destroy everything in their path, Costa Ricans, everything. The effort we make to generate employment, to attract companies, to open free trade zones,” said Fernández during the weekly press conference on Wednesday.
For the president, the approval of this initiative is fundamental for Costa Rica to generate the energy the country needs to meet future demand and thus guarantee foreign direct investment.
The Ley de Armonización del Sistema Eléctrico Nacional, in essence, establishes the Ente Coordinador del Sistema Eléctrico Nacional (ECOSEN)—National Electric System Coordinating Entity—to assume the administration and planning functions currently operated by the State utility, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), allowing private companies to generate all the energy they want to sell within or outside the country to the regional market, instead of depending on purchase contracts with ICE.
The plan promoted by the Executive Branch seeks to break the monopoly and modernize the sector, aiming for greater efficiency and the promise of competitive rates through competition among public, private, and mixed actors.
In that sense, ICE would cease to be a planner and become a competitor in the national market.
“How can you imagine my pain when we see that the country isn’t prepared with the sufficient electrical capacity that Costa Rica needs to face the next 25 years? And why doesn’t ICE make that investment? Because it’s a very large investment. (…) Today, there are companies that want to come to the country to open industries that could go to Limón, to the southern zone, to Puntarenas, but since our country doesn’t have enough energy, they decide to go to another place in the region. The rest of the countries in the region are taking off: El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Panama, while we Costa Ricans have been discussing this for, do you know how many years? 23 years,” said Fernández.
On Tuesday, the bill only garnered votes in favor (27) from the ruling party’s Pueblo Soberano bloc; the outlook for its final approval is complex.
A report from the Legislative Technical Services confirmed that modifying the powers of autonomous institutions of the State requires a qualified majority, 38 affirmative votes (two-thirds of the Plenary) in the second and final debate.
Thus, for the bill to pass into law requires votes from the opposition, mainly the Frente Amplio and PLN, whose 24 legislators voted against the bill on Tuesday and who maintain their total rejection, arguing risks of privatization and weakening of the solidarity model of ICE.
The current 57-member legislative group is made up of 31 legislators from the ruling party, the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO), 17 from the PLN, 7 from the Frente Amplio, one from the Coalicion Agenda Ciudadana (CAC), and one from the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC).
Q COSTARICA — The Juzgado Contencioso-Administrativo (Administrative Court) has been unable to locate former President and now super minister, Rodrigo Chaves, at the Casa Presidencial to serve him with a lawsuit filed against him following a ruling by the Constitutional Court, despite his current role as Minister of the Presidency.
This legal process seeks to enforce a financial penalty after Chaves revoked the declaration of cultural interest for the 2024 Pride March. The ruling orders the State to pay costs, damages, and losses caused by the former president’s actions.
The plaintiffs filed a request for the State to pay compensation for the impact of this decision. However, they argued that Chaves should also be personally liable for part of the payment, based on the legal principle of joint and several liability.
For this reason, personal service of process is required for the official, who also serves as Minister of Finance. The initial notification must be served personally by a court officer, as the process is just beginning.
On May 15, an attempt was made to serve the notification at Casa Presidencial, but it was unsuccessful. Therefore, the judge handling the case warned the parties involved—including the Attorney General’s Office, as the State’s legal representative—that they must provide a new, detailed address so that the former president can be notified.
CRHoy.com reports they sent an inquiry to Rodrigo Chaves regarding this matter, but no response was received. His lawyer, José Miguel Villalobos, who is also currently a legislator for the PPSO, indicated that he only represents him in criminal matters and did not comment on this case.
Why the lawsuit?
Geovanny Delgado, the activist behind the injunction that led to the lawsuit, explained that this legal process constitutes a financial claim for damages stemming from an illegal act confirmed by the Constitutional Court, committed by the then-president.
The illegal act relates to the revocation of the declaration of cultural interest one day before an LGBTQ+ diversity march held two years ago. Delgado questioned the difficulties encountered at Casa Presidencial in notifying Chaves.
“We find it somewhat ironic; some actions speak louder than words. He always claimed to face everything head-on, and now they’re trying to serve him with notice in a case against him where he already bears direct responsibility.
“The Constitutional Court has already condemned him, and now the amount to be paid for damages must be finalized, and he can’t be found,” the activist stated.
The plaintiffs intend for both the State and Chaves to assume the financial consequences of their actions and for those funds to be used to create a shelter in San José for vulnerable members of the LGBTQ+ community.
This is especially relevant given the international media repercussions of the former president’s statements and speeches against the march, which were broadcast in more than 60 newspapers and news programs.
Although he made these statements in the exercise of his official duties, the plaintiffs believe he also bears personal responsibility for having made them.
Why the conviction?
The conviction stems from the Presidency’s decision to abruptly and without justification revoke the declaration of cultural interest granted to the 2024 “Pride and Diversity March.” This action was deemed arbitrary and detrimental to the LGBTQ+ population, a vulnerable minority group.
The Constitutional Court determined that the declaration of cultural interest, while not implying tax or material benefits, does have significant effects in terms of visibility and awareness for the activity and its target audience. In this case, the march sought to strengthen the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community and create a safe and awareness-raising space.
The Presidency justified the annulment by claiming ignorance of the declaration and that the organizers had not obtained the necessary permits.
However, it was demonstrated that the Presidential Office did have prior knowledge of the march, as a meeting had taken place at Casa Presidencial with organizers and representatives of the Executive Branch.
Furthermore, the executive agreement granting the declaration was signed by the Vice Minister of the Presidency, who had the authority delegated by the President for such acts.
It was also verified that the march had all the required permits.
The revocation of the declaration, without an objective, technical, and valid basis, and carried out one day before the event, was considered an act of discrimination.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has established that no law or practice can restrict a person’s rights based on their sexual orientation, and the government’s decision in this case constituted an act of discrimination against the LGBTIQ+ community.
Although the appeal for protection was partially granted regarding the arbitrary nature of the revocation, the argument that the lack of a declaration endangered the safety and lives of attendees due to the absence of police was dismissed.
It was demonstrated that the Municipal Police of San José, the Traffic Police, and the Fuerza Publica were indeed present, and their officers assisted in maintaining order.
Q24N (InfoBae) The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has decided to entrust Jeff Bezos and his company Blue Origin to take the first step in building a lunar base, as part of a plan that envisions collaborating with private companies to establish the first permanent human colony on the surface of the Moon within the next decade.
The first concrete step in this program involves sending unmanned robotic missions to establish the technical and logistical foundations for future human operations. Initial responsibility falls to Blue Origin, which will lead the pioneering mission and lay the groundwork for the lunar infrastructure.
What will the first NASA mission for Jeff Bezos’s company be like?
Between September and November, NASA and Blue Origin plan to send an unmanned lunar lander, the Mark One Endurance, developed by Bezos’s company, to the Moon.
The mission’s destination is the Shackleton crater ridge at the lunar south pole, a strategic region due to the presence of ice and resources essential for human habitation.
The project, called Moon Base One, will be the first privately funded lunar lander mission in history. In addition to carrying two NASA scientific payloads, the key objective is to demonstrate critical capabilities that will reduce risk for future Human Landing System missions.
The choice of Blue Origin and its module responds to the need for proven and adaptable technology for extreme environments, as well as the company’s ability to develop solutions tailored to lunar challenges.
NASA has entrusted Bezos with leading the program’s first lunar flight, in a context where technological competition includes SpaceX, led by Elon Musk.
This is how the launches to the Moon will work.
The initial phase of the program envisions three uncrewed robotic missions to the lunar surface before the end of 2026.
Following Blue Origin’s mission, the second will be carried out by Astrobotic Technology, which will send a lander capable of carrying more than 500 kilograms of cargo, including a rover, to the Moon. The third mission will be led by Intuitive Machines, with the goal of investigating the Moon’s magnetic anomalies.
The plan envisions the transfer of more than 4 tons of equipment in 25 launches and 21 lunar landings by 2029. This logistical deployment is crucial for establishing the foundations of future lunar infrastructure and for testing the technologies that will enable human life and work on the Moon.
Among the main challenges are survival in an environment where temperatures can reach 120°C during the day and drop below -120°C at night, as well as generating and storing sufficient energy.
According to Spanish scientist Carlos García Galán, head of the Moon Base program, the energy strategy combines the use of solar and nuclear power, with a planned capacity of between 2 and 15 kilowatts, and up to 20 kilowatts if a nuclear system is used, along with hundreds of kilowatt-hours of storage.
How the Lunar Base Will Be Built
The construction of the lunar base is divided into three main stages. The first, underway with the missions announced for this year and the coming years, is dedicated to testing and learning about prolonged survival in harsh conditions.
The goal is to colonize the lunar south pole, an area with two-week nights and extremely low temperatures, where scientific research and technological development will be crucial.
During this phase, NASA plans to deploy vehicles and drones so astronauts can move around and study the region. From 2026 to 2029, 21 missions will be launched to the lunar surface to complete the initial reconnaissance and prepare the ground for the next stage.
The second phase, planned for 2029 to 2032, will involve 27 launches and 24 additional landings. Sixty tons of equipment will be transported to establish the initial infrastructure of the base and enable semi-annual crewed missions.
In the third stage, with 29 launches and 28 landings, up to 150 tons of equipment will be transported, solidifying a continuous human presence on the Moon.
Q24N (Infobae) The debate surrounding potential US intervention—invasion—in a process of systemic change in Cuba is situated within a historical framework that links the current situation to the crisis experienced at the end of the 19th century.
The central focus of this reflection is the comparison of the existential crisis facing Cuba today, considered by some to be even more acute than that of 1898. From this perspective, it is argued that decisive support and/or intervention by the United States is the only variable with a realistic probability of leading to a free and prosperous Cuba.
Historical Parallel: The Precedent of 1898
The analysis begins with a parallel to the Cuban situation at the end of the 19th century. At that time, Cuba was experiencing economic devastation, famine, epidemics, and a military conflict whose outcome was still uncertain, if not for everyone, then certainly for many of its participants. The independence movement, weakened and lacking international support, had to confront a colonial power that was much stronger militarily.
In that context, several independence leaders understood that victory achieved solely through their own resources was, at best, uncertain, and they began actively seeking U.S. involvement.
The American intervention was neither spontaneous nor imposed, but rather the result of a deliberate political strategy devised by the Cuban Revolutionary Party and Mambí figures who sought to save the independence cause and prevent total national collapse.
Contemporary Cuba: A Transformed Regime and a Society in Crisis
The document—published by the author for Cuba Siglo 21—argues that present-day Cuba is experiencing a situation similar to that of 1959. The regime that emerged in 1959 has evolved from a totalitarian communist system to what is described as a “mafia state,” controlled by a kleptocratic elite that, through the GAESA conglomerate, dominates the country’s economic and financial resources, repressing any dissent or opposition.
The Cuban population, disarmed, fragmented, impoverished, and facing crises of food, energy, health, and connectivity, lacks sufficient organizational capacity to displace the established power on its own. It concludes that insisting solely on traditional forms of opposition—such as civic protests, international denunciations, or calls for dialogue—would hardly generate real change within a timeframe compatible with the severity of the current humanitarian crisis.
The Cuba 21st Century Report of May 2026, entitled “Intervención en Cuba”, analyzes the difficult situation of the island with images of poverty and a critical reflection on its possible future.
Undesirable, Preferable, or Essential?
One of the text’s fundamental arguments is that decisive US intervention or support is the only variable with a significant probability of success. The author distinguishes between what is “preferable” and what is “essential”: the preferable solution would be an internal, peaceful, and exclusively Cuban one, but history and current conditions demonstrate that this is not always viable.
Just as the Cuban independence fighters (Mambises) would have preferred to defeat Spain alone, they ultimately concluded that they needed foreign aid to avoid defeat and shorten the suffering of the Cuban people.
Similarly, it is argued that present-day Cuba has reached the point where external aid ceases to be an option and becomes a strategic necessity.
Independence Leaders: Heroes of Yesterday, “Traitors” of Today?
The text pays particular attention to the independence leaders, posing a provocative analogy: according to the logic of the current Cuban government’s official discourse, historical figures like Máximo Gómez and Antonio Maceo would be considered “traitors” or “annexationists.”
Both, especially from the end of 1896 onward, considered U.S. intervention essential to ensuring victory over Spain. It is noted that Maceo conveyed favorable expectations to his troops in the event of U.S. intervention, and that Gómez and Estrada Palma promoted diplomatic efforts aimed at actively involving Washington.
Contemporary official discourse tends to conceal or minimize these facts because they contradict the narrative that portrays any collaboration with the United States as unpatriotic.
The Protection of Sovereignty: From the Teller Amendment to the Helms-Burton Act
Another key argument is that the Helms-Burton Act should not be interpreted as a threat to Cuban sovereignty, but rather as a mechanism for its protection. A parallel is drawn between the Teller Amendment of 1898 and Chapter II of the Helms-Burton Act: just as the Teller Amendment conditioned U.S. intervention on a commitment not to annex Cuba and to transfer power to a government elected by the Cuban people, the Helms-Burton Act provides for a transitional phase followed by free elections and the restoration of sovereign control by the Cuban people.
According to this interpretation, the law acts as a roadmap toward democratization, not as an instrument of annexation.
The Manipulation of Fear
The document dedicates a section to dismantling what it calls “the manipulation of fear” employed by the Cuban government and its supporters in the face of the possibility of a U.S. intervention. Official propaganda has constructed a series of fears to discourage any popular support for this option: loss of sovereignty, annexation, indiscriminate massacres, economic plunder, or widespread national resistance.
These fears ignore both the technological evolution of current conflicts and the political and moral erosion of the regime. Furthermore, the use of the label “annexationist” serves as a propaganda tool to delegitimize those who demand democratic changes and external alliances.
Sovereignty: The regime alleges that sovereignty would be violated, but the document argues that sovereignty was eliminated by the state itself in 1959 when it suppressed free elections; you cannot violate what does not exist.
Massacres: Faced with the fear of indiscriminate bombings, it is argued that current technology allows for surgical and precise attacks against the repressive forces, thus preventing massacres of civilians.
Annexation: It is argued that annexing 11 million impoverished people would be an unsustainable fiscal burden for the United States and would not have the support of the current American political class.
Historical hypocrisy: It is recalled that those who today denounce Yankee “annexationism” were in the past “pro-Soviet annexationists,” ceding territory for Soviet military bases and including a constitutional clause that tied the island to the Soviet Union.
In this context, the essay argues that, despite fear campaigns, US intervention is no longer a fringe idea among Cubans, but an increasingly “normalized” possibility. Recent polls, both inside and outside Cuba, indicate that broad sectors of society view some decisive US involvement in resolving the Cuban crisis favorably. This has broadened the so-called “Overton Window,” making the debate about intervention less taboo.
A Prosperous and Reinvented Cuba
The document offers a hopeful vision of Cuba’s recovery after a regime change. Unlike the more than 60 years of dependence on the USSR or Venezuela, it argues that Cuba would not require a “Marshall Plan” or an economy subsidized by foreign powers. The country’s future prosperity would rest on three pillars:
Transnational population: a diaspora with financial and human capital ready to invest in the country.
Entrepreneurial culture: an entrepreneurial spirit that has survived despite decades of repression.
Geographic proximity: closeness to the world’s largest market, allowing integration into modern production chains.
Conclusion
In conclusion, what would be preferable—a non-violent and purely Cuban solution—has become impossible due to the intransigence of the ruling elite, making external intervention essential to prevent the nation’s physical disappearance.
It is argued that maintaining the status quo is unfeasible and that the humanitarian crisis demands urgent responses. Among the possible scenarios, mass protests protected by coercive US support appear to be the most legitimate and with the greatest probability of success.
Although the United States has its own interests, it is suggested that these may coincide with those of the Cuban people, as occurred at the end of the 19th century.
The final message is that the Cuban dilemma is not between sovereignty and foreign aid, but between prolonging the crisis or taking calculated risks to rescue freedom and rebuild the nation.
Q COSTARICA — A Costa Rican court upheld a 76-year prison sentence against a man identified as Fabio Ríos Garro for the femicide of his sentimental partner and their daughter, the Public Prosecutor’s Office reported Tuesday.
“The prosecution was able to demonstrate that the events occurred in a context of domestic violence, and that the accused, after committing the crimes, set fire to the family home and filed a false report, with the aim of hiding what happened and diverting the attention of the authorities,” the Public Ministry explained in a statement.
The events occurred on July 30, 2020, in the town of San Pablo de León Cortés, province of San José, and the victims were identified as Fernanda Sánchez Aguilar and her daughter Raisha Ríos Sánchez.
The trial concluded in February 2025 with a 76-year prison sentence, but the defense filed appeals, which were rejected this Tuesday, May 26, 2026, by the Criminal Cassation Chamber, thus upholding the conviction.
Prosecutor Karen Valverde, who represented the Public Prosecutor’s Office during the trial, emphasized that the finality of the sentence represents “recognition of the technical and legal work” of the judicial authorities and “an important step in access to justice for victims of violence.”
In Costa Rica, femicide is punishable by 20 to 35 years in prison and is a crime established in the Law on the Penalization of Violence Against Women of 2007 and its subsequent amendments.
Since the law came into effect in 2007, Costa Rica has recorded a total of 557 femicides. The years with the highest number of cases were 2011 with 42, and 2024 with 44, according to data from the Observatory on Gender Violence Against Women and Access to Justice of the Judiciary.
In 2025, Costa Rica registered 36 femicides, and so far in 2026, the number has reached 10.
No Life Sentences. In Costa Rica, Article 51 of the Penal Code explicitly states that the maximum limit for a prison sentence is 50 years. Even if a judge hands down a cumulative sentence of hundreds of years—which happens in cases with multiple victims or multiple crimes—the sentence is automatically readapted so the offender does not serve more than 50 years.
Q COSTARICA — The Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep)—Regulatory Authority, approved a fare increase of 5.43% for buses and between 1.39% and 2.82% for taxis due to the international rise in fuel prices linked to the armed conflict in the Middle East.
Fuel accounts for approximately 28% of bus service costs and 12% of taxi service costs, according to ARESEP. The Regulatory Authority stated that this increase puts pressure on operators’ cash flow and could jeopardize the regular, safe, and sustainable provision of transportation in Costa Rica.
Taxi fares increases vary depending on the taxi stand and vehicle type. For red taxis and those operating at Juan Santamaría International Airport, the regulator approved increases of between 1.39% and 2.82%, depending on the taxi stand and vehicle type. Click here for the Aresep table for taxi fares.
The new fares took effect on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Q COSTARICA — The Estadio Nacional (National Stadium) was transformed into a glamorous venue, filled with nostalgia and vibrant Latin rhythms, last Friday night, when thousands of fans gathered in La Sabana to welcome one of the most cherished icons in Spanish-language music: Chayanne.
However, the true surprise of the night wasn’t just on stage, but also among the VIP seats, where a very special fan stole the show.
None other than Laura Fernández, who set aside for a few hours the presidential protocols and the State agenda to enjoy, like any other fan, the spectacular return of the “Papá de América” to Costa Rica.
Laura Fernández proved that “Chayannemania” doesn’t understand protocols during last night’s concert in La Sabana last Friday, May 22, 2026. (Courtesy DiarioExtra).
From the first notes of the evening, it was clear that Doña Laura was ready to enjoy the night to the fullest. Dressed casually and with an ever-present smile, Fernández was seen by attendees singing at the top of her lungs and dancing to the greatest hits that have defined the Puerto Rican singer’s career.
Social media, within minutes, was flooded with videos and images of the President enjoying the show, which went completely viral. Internet users applauded the president’s spontaneity, highlighting her charisma and the fact that no one can resist Chayanne’s charm. La Sabana was transformed into a giant Latin party where music united the entire country.
But Laura was not alone on this night. Apparently, “Chayanne-mania” has taken hold in the upper echelons of government, as several members of the presidential cabinet were also seen at the venue enjoying the show.
Among the distinguished attendees was Arnold Zamora, Minister of Communication, Gerald Campos Valverde, Minister of Public Security, enjoying a well-deserved moment of leisure in a secure and heavily guarded stadium, and Gabriel Aguilar, Minister of Justice.
After the show, accompanied by her husband, Laura went backstage for an exclusive meeting with the idol. Amid laughter, congratulations on the impeccable show, and displays of mutual affection, the presidential couple spoke briefly with the singer and took the opportunity to immortalize the evening with several official photographs that captured the warmth of their encounter.
RICO’s Q — Lately, I’ve been talking to some of the other “older” folks, and we all keep circling back to the same idea: the world just doesn’t make sense to us anymore.
Honestly? I’m with them—at least, part of the way.
I’ve always thought of myself as a bit of a chameleon, trying to keep up (sometimes stumbling) as everything around me changes.
But then I see this: a five-seater Ferrari. I managed to wrap my head around the five-seater Porsche, but a Ferrari? And it’s electric, no less?
Even Ferrari’s former boss, Luca di Montezemolo, took a swipe at it. “If I had to say what I really think, I would be hurting Ferrari. This is surely a car that at least the Chinese won’t copy from us,” he said. That’s the guy who ran the Ferrari from 1991 to 2014.
Social media didn’t pull any punches either. The launch sent Ferrari’s stock down more than eight percent in Milan and over five percent in New York. Comments were savage. One person declared, “Ferrari just killed their brand just like Jaguar did. This is straight to the junkyard trash.”
The Daily Mail jumped in, too, sharing doctored images of the new car all over X (formerly Twitter). Some made the Ferrari look like a vacuum cleaner; others compared its design to that infamous “Homer car” from The Simpsons.
Ferrari’s CEO, Benedetto Vigna, tried to put a positive spin on things. He said in Rome that the Luce—Italian for “light”—took five years to develop. He also pointed out that while rivals like Lamborghini and Porsche have backed off on electric plans due to weak demand and tough Chinese competition, Ferrari is doubling down. “We are convinced that a company demonstrates its leadership when it has the courage to dare and to take on the challenge of new technologies. Ferrari Luce was born precisely from this challenge, offering our unprecedented vision of electrification.”
Even John Elkann, Ferrari’s executive chairman and president, got in on the action, presenting the new model to Pope Leo at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope’s summer residence, guarded by men dressed like clowns—Swiss guard).
There was this surreal moment: The Pope, sitting in the Luce’s driver’s seat, Ferrari’s test driver at his side explaining the controls in English (yet another sign of how much things have changed), asks, “Is this the first four-door Ferrari?” Elkann replies, “The first five-seater.”
The Pope, ever the diplomat, didn’t tip his hand. As for me, with zero context and plenty of skepticism, I’m giving it a hard nay—right there with the internet trolls and car critics who say the Luce isn’t really a Ferrari.
Traditionally, a Ferrari’s shape follows its engine. But this time, there’s no engine to dictate the design, so the car sits taller, with the driver perched higher—battery under the floor and all.
Specs-wise, the Luce is a beast: 1,000 horsepower, 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds, with more than 500 kilometers of range, and four electric motors—one for each wheel.
But as Pierre-Olivier Essig at AIR Capital, in a note for clients reported by Bloomberg, put it: “The Luce looks like a mix between a Honda Accord EV and Tesla 3.” Ouch.
Electric cars are everywhere now—last year, one in every four new cars sold worldwide was electric, according to the International Energy Agency. That’s $26.8 billion in global sales.
Still, with a price tag north of $600,000, I won’t be getting one.
And honestly, it’s not about the money.
I still remember the first time I got up close—no touching— to a Ferrari Testarossa. The Luce is… a five-seater frikin’ Ferrari. The world just doesn’t make sense anymore.
Q COSTARICA — The Costa Rican College of Geologists says there are an estimated seven million ounces of gold deposits in Costa Rica: 2 million in Crucitas, while in Cerro Conchudital, they estimate there are 5 million.
That’s a staggering sum—around US$31.64 billion. But due to the limited police presence in these areas, a lot of it is being taken by outsiders.
What began as a trickle of small-scale prospectors years ago has escalated into a high-stakes environmental crisis in Costa Rica’s northern region, particularly around the Crucitas area near the Nicaraguan border.
Crucitas, Costa Rica
The story is familiar: abandoned open-pit mines, left behind after a large Canadian mining project, Calgary-based Infinito Gold, was canceled in 2010, have become magnets for illegal miners.
In November 2010, the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly unanimously banned all open-pit metal mining across the country. However, armed with mercury and heavy machinery, these “coligalleros”—as they’re known locally—have moved in by the hundreds. They dig through the earth day and night, driven by promises of quick cash and the lure of rising gold prices on the global market.
For now, the gold rush shows little sign of slowing. And with every ounce of gold smuggled out, Costa Rica’s “pura vida” promise looks a little more fragile.
Costa Rica is scrambling to respond.
Hopefully, it shouldn’t matter which political party someone belongs to—a good idea is a good idea, no matter where it comes from.
Such as the very interesting proposal by Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) legislator Diana Murillo for the “tokenización”, the issuing of “tokens” (digital certificates) for Crucitas and Conchudita. This process would convert the value of the untapped gold reserves into digital certificates.
If there are 7 million ounces of gold, 7 million digital certificates (tokens) are issued; each ounce of gold equals one certificate.
Individuals or investors who purchase a certificate know it is backed by Costa Rican gold. This eliminates the need to extract gold from the ground, because what is consumed is certified, not physical gold.
The legislator believes her proposal has several advantages:
It’s faster than holding an international bidding process to bring in a mining company. See here her video
It’s a 100% environmentally friendly idea because, since the gold isn’t extracted, there’s no need to alter the area’s environment.
Costa Rica wouldn’t have to share the profits from the sale of the gold (certificates) with anyone. With a mining company, a percentage would have to be negotiated.
Murillo argues that the government’s proposal to fast-track new open-pit gold mining concessions in the Crucitas region takes 8–10 years to initiate mining operations, allowing illegal activities, dangerous criminal networks, and environmental degradation (such as mercury and cyanide pollution) to continue unchecked.
Unfortunately, Chavismo (Rodrigo Chaves and Laura Fernández) opposes legislator Murillo’s proposal based on Brazil’s pioneering of gold tokenization, using blockchain technology to track and tokenize its domestic gold supply chain.
RICO’s Q — On Monday, President Laura Fernández ordered the top officials of police organizations and ministers to take a “lie detector” or polygraph test.
The American Psychological Association, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and most courts worldwide reject the polygraph because its results are not proof of guilt or innocence. Any student of Criminal Law or Criminology knows this.
Laura is resorting to tactics that have already been scientifically proven to be flawed. This tactic reveals, on the one hand, ignorance and, on the other, opportunism (populismo in Spanish).
What Laura did was propose a measure that is completely ineffective but deceives people unfamiliar with these issues.
Why doesn’t the “lie detector” work?
This is because the instrument measures physiological variables such as heart rate, blood pressure, perspiration, etc., which can be affected by stress, anxiety, hypertension, or other medical or psychological conditions.
They can even be induced by the interrogator, or the way the questions are asked can cause a physiological response.
For these reasons, judges in the United States, and many European and Latin American countries, DO NOT admit “lie detector” or polygraph tests as evidence of guilt in a trial.
What Laura demonstrates is a profound ignorance of forensic science, criminalistics, and criminal law.
Laura is truly embarrassing with the nonsense (“tonteras” in Spanish) she has been spouting in less than a month since taking office.
Among the comments on social media are:
“She’s out of line”.
“She makes up all sorts of things!”
“They took the muzzle off the donkey, and she came out with that. They should keep her tied up.”
“Start with her and see if you’re any good.”
“Just random thoughts. She should be proposing a plan for the education crisis, the crisis in healthcare services, the wave of violence, the increase in femicides, among so many other problems that plague us.”
“She’s making a fool of herself, as always.”
“No, it’s neither ridiculous nor ignorant; it’s populism. Analyze it: one week yes, the next no, they come up with some nonsense to create controversy, to keep polarizing the public, to keep fueling the hatred and attachment of their ‘fans’. It’s not nonsense, it’s strategy.”
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What do you think? Share your thoughts on our official Facebook page or send an email. I read every message, even if I can’t always reply to everyone.
Q COSTARICA — Residents and business owners in Mora have been without a reliable water supply for at least two weeks, just as they need to wash their hands frequently due to the Salmonella outbreak in the canton’s principal town, Ciudad Colón.
Forty-seven people in Ciudad Colón have fallen ill with Salmonella, and one person has already died, and another is hospitalized due to the outbreak, which appears to have started late last week and has mostly affected children and seniors, according to Dr. Gabriela Morales, a spokesperson for the regional health authority.
“With everything that’s happening here in Colón and the outbreak, the Ministry of Health is telling us to wash our hands, but where are we supposed to get water? Tell me: How are we supposed to wash our hands if there’s no water?” asked rhetorically Zulma Villaseñor, an affected resident.
The woman stated that the situation is forcing many families to buy bottled water to meet their basic needs.
Villaseñor confirmed that water outages continue to occur in different parts of the canton.
“There are still shortages, and they’re cutting it off every few days. The biggest problem is in the San Bosco area, where they’ve been dealing with this issue for many years,” she said.
She also pointed out that these service interruptions are nothing new for those who live in the area.
“I’ve lived in Ciudad Colón for 22 years, and there’s always a problem like this in this area, with weeks going by without water,” she added.
Business Owners Report Losses
The situation is also hitting local businesses hard, which say they’ve been affected by the outbreak linked to a chicken vendor in the canton.
Some business owners said that while their water hasn’t been shut off, hardly any customers have come in lately.
“With the Salmonella outbreak, I think all businesses have been affected. This whole thing started last week, and to be honest, I had zero sales last week,” Laura Arias, who owns a local coffee shop in the center of Ciudad Colón, told Crhoy.com.
The business owner believes social media has instilled fear among consumers.
“People start spreading a lot of misinformation, and then they go around saying not to buy anything from any business in Ciudad Colón,” she stated.
“Last week, from Monday to Friday, I didn’t have a single customer. On Saturday, only four people came, and on Sunday, another four,” she said.
Arias added that he hasn’t had any customers this week either.
AyA quiet on the matter. For their part, despite the health emergency in the canton, the water and sewer utility, Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA), has not responded to calls regarding the disruption and the measures implemented to restore service.
The canton of Mora is facing a complex health situation due to a Salmonella outbreak preliminarily linked to a commercial establishment in Ciudad Colón. Authorities have not yet released the name of the business.
Health authorities have linked the outbreak to food consumption at the establishment under investigation.
Schools in the area have been advised to monitor students for symptoms, and parents are being urged to keep their children home at the first sign of illness.
The Ministry of Health is urging people to be extra careful with food handling and handwashing. But for a lot of residents and business owners, that’s exactly where the problem lies—frequent water outages make it nearly impossible to follow these health guidelines or keep things safe.
Q COSTARICA — With the goal of detecting any hint of corruption and organized crime among Costa Rica top police echelon, President Laura Fernández on Monday ordered polygraph tests for all police chiefs and ministers.
She made the announcement during the first meeting of the “Elite Force” as part of the government’s security strategy, meeting with the country’s security heads in an effort to deter crime.
“I ordered that each and every one of these people take a polygraph test. Everyone will be given a polygraph. We are already analyzing how to do it, how to contract it, so that it is done quickly. I took it myself, and so did my vice-presidential candidates. I will not tolerate the slightest whiff of corruption and organized crime,” said Fernández, who emphasized that the ministers will also submit to the tests, including former President Rodrigo Chaves (2022-2026), who now holds the position of super minister in her cabinet.
Fernández’s decision comes at a time when the country is experiencing a war between drug gangs that has resulted in a sharp increase in homicides a since 2023.
Furthermore, he indicated that police training will be improved.
“The National Police Academy will be offering more courses in critical areas of crime prevention so that our police forces are increasingly better trained. We were also able to review data on crime prevention by province. Crime patterns across the country are not uniform; they vary significantly by province and even by canton,” said the President.
Representatives from Operations, Preventive Police Programs, the National Coast Guard Service, the Drug Control Police, the National Police Academy, Private Security, Immigration Police, Air Surveillance, Special Intervention Units, and, of course, the Ministers of Public Security and Justice and Peace attended Monday’s meeting.
Following her inauguration, Fernández announced an ambitious program to reunite every Monday representatives of the difference security forces, to coordinate the fight against organized crime.
RICO’s Q — In Costa Rica, after 10 p.m., advancing on a red light is not a traffic violation. But there are some important details behind this.
This unusual traffic law mainly exists to prevent crime. In cities like San José, stopping at empty intersections late at night puts drivers at serious risk of armed robberies, carjackings (bajonazo in Spanish), and what locals call “sequestro express” — a quick kidnapping where criminals hijack the car and force the driver to hit ATMs for cash before letting them go.
Since a car stopped at a red light is an easy target in the empty and dark streets, authorities realized that making drivers wait at these lights was putting them in danger.
So, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., from Monday to Sunday, traffic light enforcement changes.
But this doesn’t mean drivers can speed through without caution.
The rule from the MOPT and the Policia de Tránsito (Traffic Police) requires strict compliance with the following: make a complete stop. It is not permitted to proceed directly at the same speed. You must stop the vehicle completely and verify that there is no risk.
Remember that this is an optional measure. And that not all drivers know this rule even exists.
In reality, a common practice of most drivers is that the red light basically acts like a yield sign as they do a rolling stop — when a driver approaches a red light, slows to a crawl, but never brings the vehicle’s wheels to a complete halt.
To minimize an inherently dangerous, many drivers flash their high beams or honk to warn others as they roll through these late-night intersections.
On the other side, it is good defensive driving, despite having the right of way, to treat green lights like yield signs during these hours, slowing down and making sure any cross traffic comes to a stop.
This pragmatic approach to traffic laws highlights how local regulations often evolve to match the realities of the environment.
By relaxing traffic enforcement during the highest-risk hours, drivers in Costa Rica can focus on staying safe and keep moving instead of sitting ducks at red lights.
This flexible rule shows how local laws can shift to fit real-life challenges. By easing up on traffic enforcement during the most dangerous hours, Costa Rican drivers can focus on staying safe and keep moving instead of sitting ducks at red lights.
Q COSTARICA — This year, Costa Rica is facing a growing wave of digital scams via SMS messages. Institutions such as the Consejo Nacional de Viabilidad (COSEVI) have warned about fake messages circulating that misuse their name, while banks report an increase in attempted fraud that exploits the supposed expiration of “points about to expire.”
These messages include links that lead to fraudulent websites designed to mimic official shopping or service pages in order to steal personal and financial data. This method—known as smishing—has become one of the main digital threats of 2026.
In this regard, Rolando Rojas Coto, head of technological infrastructure at the Directorate of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC) of the National Distance Learning University (UNED), noted that this activity has generated concern among authorities and cybersecurity specialists.
“Throughout the year, we’ve seen various scams, whether by phone calls, email, and currently, quite a few via SMS. Some typical red flags are messages claiming you have points about to expire or a very urgent prize,” he explained.
He added that these scams also include a link for quick access, create pressure by indicating it’s the last day or that it’s urgent, come from unknown or unofficial numbers, and contain grammatical errors or unusual formatting.
The expert emphasized that these practices aim to create psychological pressure on people, appealing to their sense of urgency and fear of losing benefits or facing penalties. “It’s very important to know what not to do and what to do, such as not clicking on unknown links, not entering personal information, and not responding in any way,” he said.
He recommended ignoring the message, deleting it, and verifying directly with the institution or bank through their official channels.
“Prevention is the best defense. Activating two-step verification, keeping your phone updated, and being wary of any message that asks you to act quickly are key measures to protect yourself. Digital literacy is fundamental to reducing the impact of these scams,” he added.
Recommendations. Given this situation, the UNED expert made a series of recommendations, including:
What NOT to do
Do not click on unknown or suspicious links.
Do not enter personal information such as usernames, passwords, or codes.
Do not reply to the sender or download attachments.
What TO do
Ignore and delete the message immediately.
Verify using official apps or call the bank/institution using official numbers.
Report and block the number as spam on your phone.
Digital protection tips
Activate two-step verification on accounts and devices.
Keep your phone updated with the latest software versions.
Use anti-spam apps to detect suspicious messages.
Be wary of urgent claims about prizes or expiring points.
“We reiterate the importance of providing citizens with digital education and fraud prevention training, and we urge them to remain vigilant and apply good security practices when using their mobile devices,” concluded the UNED professional.
Pulperías are small grocery stores that form the economic and social core of rural villages in Costa Rica. They stand as far more than just a small grocery store.
These modest shops, family-run businesses, often tucked into a corner of a village street or even part of someone’s home, are the beating heart of local life in rural communities for generations.
Inside, shelves are stocked with daily basic essentials like rice, beans, sugar, canned goods, and fresh produce, alongside local specialties and household essentials. But the pulpería offers much more than just goods; it’s a place where neighbors meet, stories are shared, and the rhythms of village life unfold.
The Counter Culture. Unlike modern grocery stores and supermarkets, traditional pulperías often feature a high wooden counter where customers ask the pulpero (owner) to fetch items from shelves behind them. Many are named after the owner (e.g., Pulpería Doña Maria) or a local landmark.
For many rural Costa Ricans, these shops serve as a lifeline. With limited transportation options and larger markets kilometers away, the pulpería provides essential access to food and supplies without the need for a long, costly trip. The owners know their customers personally, often extending credit or offering goods on trust—a practice that has kept communities resilient through tough times.
While large supermarket chains like Palí or Megasuper are expanding into larger towns, the traditional pulpería remains irreplaceable in smaller Costa Rican villages where personal relationships and proximity matter most, remaining a symbol of resilience and community spirit. It is a reminder that sometimes, the smallest places can hold the biggest stories and the deepest connections. For those who live there, the pulpería is not just a store—it’s a vital thread in the fabric of daily life.
Yet, pulperías face challenges in the modern age. The rise of urbanization, improved transportation, and the spread of big-box stores threaten their place in the local economy.
This was a typical pulperia from the 70s and 80s; some lasted until the mid-90s.
Q COSTARICA — Mayuli Ortega Guzmán, a legislator of the ruling Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO), introduced a bill that seeks to establish prison sentences for drivers involved in a traffic accident who fail to “stop, provide assistance to injured or endangered persons, prevent the aggravation of injuries, or immediately notify authorities,” when they could do so without endangering themselves or others.
Article 144 of the Penal Code (Law No. 4573) already establishes a fine when a person fails to provide assistance to another person injured. However, the text points out that this article does not distinguish between situations in which the person was involved in traffic accident that caused the injuries.
The explanatory memorandum justifies introducing this distinction by pointing to “the need to strengthen the protection of traffic accident victims by expressly and aggravating the offense of failure to render aid by a driver involved in the accident.”
The initiative proposes adding Article 144 bis to the Penal Code, which would establish the following penalties for these cases:
Six months to two years in prison, a fine of 20 to 60 days, and suspension of the driver’s license for a period of one to three years, if the accident was caused by negligence.
Two to five years in prison, a fine of 60 to 120 days, and suspension of the driver’s license for a period of three to five years, if the accident was caused intentionally.
The explanatory memorandum recalls that Article 328 of the 1970 Penal Code stipulated a penalty of six months to two years in prison for anyone who, after a traffic accident resulting in injury or death, left the scene. However, this article was struck down by the Constitutional Court in 1993, which considered that the penalty violated the presumption of innocence.
To align with this ruling, the initiative states that the obligation it seeks to establish is limited to “providing assistance, immediately activating emergency services, or taking measures to prevent the danger to life or physical integrity from worsening,” and that it cannot be interpreted as a “duty to testify against oneself, admit responsibility, confess to facts, provide incriminating evidence, or cooperate with the criminal investigation.”
The explanatory statement justifies this new penalty by stating: “This reform would close a clear regulatory gap and send a clear message of social intolerance toward those who abandon an injured person after a traffic accident. It’s not about staying to give a statement, but about helping.”
Red tape. The Legislative Assembly is currently in extraordinary session, meaning the initiative must be either convened by the Executive Branch (Government of Laura Fernández) or wait until August 1st to begin its corresponding legislative process.
Q COSTARICA — Current market conditions could allow remittance companies to be used to launder millions of dollars from illegal activities, according to the General Superintendency of Financial Entities (SUGEF).
These types of companies have difficulty tracing the origin of funds and identifying clients who use their services to send money to Costa Rica, according to a report prepared by consultant Jorge Santiago Fernández-Ordás Llamas and available on the institution’s website.
“This weakness in the preventative framework translates into the ability to identify and report suspicious transactions, making it difficult to identify patterns of recurring individuals operating with criminal networks and to trace the money,” adds the executive summary of the report, “National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.”
The information was published by the newspaper La Nación last week, which notes that the study was conducted in 2024, but was only made public this year, specifically in April.
Costa Rica receives almost four times more funds through remittance companies than it sends abroad through these channels.
According to the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR), Costa Rica operates as both a recipient and a sender of personal funds:
Inbound (United States): The primary source of incoming family money. Costa Rican emigrants living in the U.S. send an average of US$504 per month back home.
Outbound (Nicaragua): Costa Rica acts as a major hub for South-South migration corridors. Nicaraguan immigrants living in Costa Rica send a significant portion of their income back to Nicaragua, averaging US$155 per month.
Common methods for sending money to Costa Rica include mainstream platforms such as Xoom, excellent for instant deposits, and WorldRemit, which allows users to link bank accounts or debit cards to bypass physical cash fees.
Funds can be wired straight into major local financial institutions such as BAC San José or the Banco Nacional (BN) using standard routing information.
Western Union & MoneyGram, for example, are ideal if your recipient prefers picking up physical cash or if they do not have a bank account.
Q COSTARICA — The expansion of Ruta 27 (San José – Caldera) is slated to begin its first phase in 2027, according to Efraím Zeledón, Minister of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT).
Currently, the government is advancing in negotiations to improve the road network between the capital and the Costa Rican Pacific coast.
So far, the concessionaire, Global Via, has submitted an expansion proposal totaling US$700 million, according to the online newspaper Observador.com.
The proposal envisions developing the expansion in two phases. The first phase would cover the section between Escazú and Atenas.
“We have to go to the Comptroller General’s Office to develop an addendum to the contract; we expect to be doing that in the second half of this year. If we obtain the Comptroller General’s approval, as I mentioned, we will begin the first phase of the expansion next year, and subsequently, a second phase covering the next section, which extends to Caldera,” the minister told the newspaper.
Initially, the government would contribute approximately US$300 million to finance the first phase of the project.
“The concessionaire would simply be responsible for widening the route without necessarily increasing tolls or tariffs significantly,” the official concluded.
Q COSTARICA — For the first time, Costa Rica was promoted as a tourist destination at an official Formula 1 race.
On Sunday, fans of the sport in Montreal, Canada, not only experienced the excitement of the competition but also got a glimpse of Costa Rica.
Canada is the second largest source of tourists to Costa Rica, with a significant increase in direct flights and high growth potential, which is why the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) decided to make the investment.
During the first four months of 2026, 173,439 Canadian tourists entered the country.
Formula 1 giants such as Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, and Charles Leclerc, among others, participated in the race, making Costa Rica’s promotion as a destination a five-star event.
“The Formula 1 race in Montreal is one of the most global events, and according to organizers, thousands of people are expected to travel there this weekend. This is a unique and unprecedented opportunity to strengthen Costa Rica’s position in the Canadian market,” highlighted Óscar Saborío, marketing director of the ICT.
During the well-attended event, Costa Rica featured a modernly designed space with a series of experiences, including immersive videos of the country, direct interaction with attendees, virtual tours on mobile devices via QR codes, activities for the public, lounge chairs, and relaxation areas.
This “oasis of experiences” aims to showcase Costa Rica’s main tourist attractions, nature, and biodiversity.
Q COSTARICA — In the first five months of the year, the dollar exchange rate has lost almost 50 colones in value, according to records from the Central Bank’s Foreign Exchange Market (Monex).
On January 1st, the US dollar closed at 497.07 colones, while last Friday it closed at ¢453 colones. This represents a total reduction of 44 colones.
The conflict in the Middle East between the United States and Iran has the potential to increase the value of the dollar.
However, experts in this area say that the increase in the currency will not be significant, so businesses and individuals who receive their income in dollars should expect the dollar to remain below 500 colones for the rest of the year.
“In general, we can say that the exchange rate is maintaining the trend it has shown in recent months, and indeed, in recent years in general. The excess of dollars in the economy is causing the exchange rate to show a clear downward trend, making it difficult to say when it will rebound,” explained Luis Alvarado, economic and stock market analyst at ACOBO Stock Exchange.
The specialist indicated that there are currently several variables putting downward pressure on the value of the dollar, including the end of the peak tourist season and the steady inflow of foreign investment.
Added to this is the Central Bank of Costa Rica’s prudent policy regarding the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR).
Coincidentally, at the end of last week, despite the dollar exchange rate continuing to reach historic lows, the Central Bank again opted for prudence with the MPR.
Due to uncertainty surrounding the conflict in the Middle East and the impact of El Niño on inflation, the Central Bank decided to maintain the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 3.25%.
This means that interest rates on loans and credit cards will not decrease in the medium term; instead, they will remain high, attracting investors who seek to take advantage of favorable conditions and earn profits.
The measure affects borrowers and those who receive their income in dollars, as the economy receives more dollars, thus lowering the exchange rate.
“In the international environment, uncertainty persists regarding the magnitude and duration of the economic effects of the conflict in the Middle East. This has increased international commodity prices, especially for oil, fertilizers, and some food products, which is putting upward pressure on inflation and affecting global growth prospects. Given this situation, most central banks have opted to maintain their benchmark interest rates,” the Central Bank stated.
What to do?
The current exchange rate situation presents opportunities, but also risks. Experts recommend paying down debt, setting spending limits, protecting margins, and maintaining diversification to make more sustainable financial decisions in the face of exchange rate volatility.
For individuals:
Take advantage of the low dollar to pay down dollar-denominated debt or consider converting it to colones for greater stability.
Set a monthly limit in colones for dollar-denominated expenses and avoid overspending due to the perception of being “cheap.”
If you earn in dollars, convert the money gradually to average the exchange rate and protect your cash flow.
For Businesses and SMEs:
Exporters: the low dollar reduces the value of income in colones, so they must protect margins (prices, terms, cash flow).
Importers: they may have better costs, but they should not assume that the exchange rate will remain the same.
Key takeaway: When making trading decisions, work with exchange rate ranges, not a fixed value.
For Investors and savers:
Maintain diversification and align your investment currency with your financial goals.
Consider your investment horizon, as prolonged fluctuations redistribute winners and losers.
A weak dollar benefits those who pay in dollars but puts pressure on sectors that generate income in that currency.
The takeaway: The US dollar is expected to remain below 500 colones for the rest of 2026.
Q COSTARICA — The expansion of Juan Santamaría (San José) International Airport has, for now, shelved the project for a passenger terminal in Orotina, as formally proposed during the administration of former President Luis Guillermo Solís (2014-2018).
The infrastructure in Orotina had been envisioned as a long-term development intended to replace the Juan Santamaría Airport when it reached its capacity.
The current government, however, is confident that the ongoing expansion works, and others planned for the future, will extend the lifespan of the country’s main airport.
Efraím Zeledón, Minister of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT), stated that there is a premature plan to transform the concept of the Orotina proposal. He explained that the idea now is to convert it into an air cargo terminal, given that the Juan Santamaría Airport’s cargo terminal is operating beyond capacity.
Orotina offers several advantages for becoming a logistics hub: the canton’s geographic location, its connectivity to the port of Caldera and Route 27, and its proximity to the railway line, which is a key factor in the potential reactivation of the train service to Caldera.
Ongoing Projects
The San Josél Airport is currently undergoing a nearly US$400 million expansion program that includes ongoing projects and others planned for the future.
This week, the first phase of this expansion was inaugurated: a new 3,800-square-meter (m²) arrivals area. This space includes car rental and taxi counters, a customs inspection and control area with seven scanners from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), restrooms, and an outdoor plaza in front of the terminal.
Simultaneously, construction is underway on a parking tower with more than 600 spaces, which will be partially completed by the end of the year, and a seven-story hotel with 175 rooms, scheduled to open in 2027.
Construction is underway for a parking tower with more than 600 spaces
Inside the main terminal, the immigration and security area for international departures is being expanded. The second floor will extend over the airport’s internal roadway to reach the parking lot. The roadway will be transformed into a tunnel-like structure. The expansion of check-in counters will continue into 2027.
While this work is underway, there will be changes to passenger flow within the building, according to Juan Belliard, Director of Operations and Security at Aeris, the airport administrator.
In the aviation sector, a 35,000 m² section will be added to the remote aircraft parking apron, providing space for seven aircraft, including three wide-body aircraft used for transatlantic flights.
Limón and the southern region follow
Authorities plan to prioritize investment in other airport terminals to alleviate congestion at Juan Santamaría International Airport.
At Guanacaste Airport in Liberia, the apron for private flights is being expanded. However, the expansion of the passenger terminal to meet growing demand remains pending.
The airport planned for Palmar Sur, located in the southern region, is still undergoing archaeological rescue. Indigenous artifacts discovered in mid-2025 must be removed from the area, a process that will take the remainder of this year.
Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) is working on the master plan that will be implemented after the archaeological rescue. This plan will define the project’s technical aspects.
For the Limón airport, there is good news. Studies of tides and winds, conducted in 2025, concluded that the terminal is viable, but with modifications.
Zedón indicated that among the possibilities are moving the runway inland or changing its orientation, but what is certain is that it must be raised two meters to protect it from flooding and other weather events.
These adjustments increase the project’s cost. The investment in this airport is estimated at US$200 million.
Q24N — The indictment filed by the Trump administration against Raúl Castro for the murder of U.S. citizens during the downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996 could have direct implications for the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo in the case of U.S. citizen Eddy Montes Praslin, according to analysts, human rights advocates, and Nicaraguan opposition members.
Foreign policy experts believe that the charges against Raúl Castro represent a new escalation in Washington’s pressure on the Cuban government led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, amid the island’s economic crisis and the tightening of measures implemented by Trump toward Cuba.
Analysts also maintain that the case once again places Latin America in the spotlight of U.S. foreign policy, even amidst international tensions related to Iran and other global issues.
Nicaraguan security expert Javier Meléndez noted that, during the presentation of the indictment against Raúl Castro, U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones warned that “those who murder U.S. citizens will not escape U.S. justice,” and therefore did not rule out “direct implications for Nicaragua.”
“U.S. citizen Eddy Montes was arbitrarily detained by the Ortega-Murillo regime on October 18, 2018, in the context of the repression against civic protests. Seven months later, on May 16, 2019, he was murdered in La Modelo prison by prison guards under the control of the Nicaraguan state,” Meléndez recalled.
International political scientist Jason Marczak, director of the Adrienne Arsht Center for Latin America at the Atlantic Council, believes that Washington will not reduce pressure on Havana in the short term due to Donald Trump’s continued focus on the region.
For his part, Salvador Marenco, a human rights defender with the Nicaragua Never Again Collective, told 100% Noticias that they continue to demand justice for all victims murdered by the Ortega-Murillo regime, regardless of their nationality, and stated that the case of Eddy Montes deserves an international investigation as part of the crimes against humanity attributed to the Nicaraguan dictatorship.
“They will have to find justice, whether inside or outside Nicaragua,” stated Marenco, who also recalled the statements of the U.S. Attorney General.
“Those who murder U.S. citizens will not be able to escape U.S. justice. The Ortega-Murillo regime murdered Mr. Eddy Montes Praslin in May 2019, and his murder remains unpunished,” he asserted.
Marenco insisted that the Eddy Montes case must become a matter of international concern.
“Let us remember that the Eddy Montes case is part of the crimes against humanity and the murders of more than 350 people killed by the Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo regime,” he pointed out.
The human rights defender also recalled the case of U.S. citizen Marcos Novoa, who, according to reports, was tortured in the regime’s prisons.
“The situation in the prisons has worsened, since they not only take lives, but also disappear and continue to torture political prisoners,” he emphasized.
For his part, Nicaraguan opposition member Medardo Mairena presented the case of Eddy Montes to the U.S. Attorney General through X (formerly Twitter) and extended the appeal to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, requesting that the crime not go unpunished.
“Honorable Attorney General of the United States of America: On May 16, 2019, American citizen Eddy Antonio Montes Praslin, 57, a U.S. Navy veteran, was murdered in La Modelo prison by the Sandinista regime led by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo,” Mairena wrote.
The opposition member recalled that Montes Praslin was arbitrarily arrested in October 2018 after protesting the repression of mostly young demonstrators.
“Seven years after it was carried out, this crime remains in absolute impunity,” he concluded.
Q24N — Nicaragua’s co-dictator Rosario Murillo announced the birth of her 31st grandchild, the son of Camila Ortega Murillo, as “great news”.
The family is characterized by establishing a kind of modern sultanate in which its children, grandchildren and daughters-in-law assume positions in the State and gradually close the net around trusted people who previously helped them to come to power and cover up acts of corruption and crimes against humanity.
The growing family means more people on the succession list for the dynastic project they are trying to impose.
“Daniel Augusto has been born, he has joined our family, son of Noel and Camila, grandson of Marco Antonio and María Auxiliadora, and Daniel Augusto is our 31st grandson, a glorious blessing from God,” Murillo said in her midday phone call to the nation.
She also added that they already have nine great-grandchildren. In total, the dictatorial family numbers 52 people, including the co-dictators.
The large Ortega-Murillo family at the baptism of one of its members. From Sandinista media
Ortega and Murillo have 10 children in total. Three are from Murillo’s two previous relationships, six were conceived with Ortega, and one is adopted. However, all of them bear the Ortega surname because they were registered by the dictator, including Zoilamérica, who in 1998 accused her stepfather of rape.
This led to her being removed from the family tree, as Murillo did not include Zoilamérica’s three children in her list.
Others denied by the co-dictator are two of her granddaughters, daughters of Rafael Ortega Murillo and Yadira Leets, who went with their mother to the United States after she resigned from managing the family’s oil businesses. In total, counting the family purges, Murillo’s grandchildren would number 36, for a total family of 57.
The “Extended” Family
It should be remembered that Ortega also has a large number of children born out of wedlock. The formally recognized case is that of Camilo Ortega Herrera, son of former guerrilla fighter Leticia Herrera.
But there is the complaint from the family of Elvia Junieth Flores, who accused Ortega of rape when their daughter was a minor, and with whom he had two children. These children were acknowledged by the dictator’s former security advisor and personal friend, Néstor Moncada Lau.
The other known case is that of Arlen Aracely Mairena Maradiaga, originally from León and recently persecuted by Murillo. She has two other children, also acknowledged by Moncada Lau.
Another girl was conceived by Ortega and police officer Any Kent Mhüller. It is believed the list is longer, but circumstances compel the parties involved to remain silent.
Murillo thanked God for having such a large family and asked that they all have a “spirit of service to Nicaragua.”
The “slap” to Murillo’s ego
Murillo mentioned the names of all her grandchildren, and something curious came to light. She has two granddaughters named Abril, a word that stirs up the hatred of the co-dictator, because it was in that month in 2018 that the socio-political crisis erupted that prevented her goal of reaching the presidency by popular acclamation.
She ultimately had to impose her will by declaring herself co-president and went down in history as one of the country’s most bloodthirsty figures. Her two granddaughters are Abril Argelia and Abril Celeste.
A mother’s lack of empathy
Murillo’s announcement also highlighted the co-dictator’s lack of empathy for her own pregnant daughter.
With her pregnancy nearly full term, Camila was used by Murillo two weeks ago as a human tripod to hold up documents she was reading at an official event.
Because the event was outdoors, the wind rustled the papers, and Murillo reacted with a sour face and angry gestures toward her daughter, who was trying hard to please her mother. The pregnant woman spent more than two hours on her feet at the event, serving her parents while they gave lengthy speeches.
On May 18, just three days before her due date, the dictators held another event commemorating the 131st anniversary of Augusto C. Sandino’s birth, and Camila was once again used as an assistant.
She held her mother’s hand as she climbed stairs or walked across the platforms, despite the mobility difficulties inherent to a woman in advanced pregnancy.
Q COSTARICA — The state-owned Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) affirmed Thursday that Costa Rica has no plans to purchase energy from Panama and that it has sufficient resources to meet demand.
“Costa Rica does not have firm energy purchase contracts with Panama, so it is not currently importing electricity from that country and projects not doing so for the remainder of 2026,” ICE stated in a press release.
The statement comes following Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino’s announcement of the suspension of electricity sales to Costa Rica, after expressing surprise at the tone of the public complaints made by Costa Rica’s new president, Laura Fernández, regarding a bilateral trade dispute being resolved at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
While the Costa Rican government has not yet commented on the Panamanian president’s statements, ICE asserted that “the national electricity system has sufficient resources to meet Costa Rica’s electricity demand,” and maintained that energy transactions “are governed by technical regulations and market relations.”
Costa Rica is the largest energy exporter in Central America, with a 49.8% share of the total traded in the MER (Regional Electricity Market), followed by Guatemala (29.9%) and Panama (11%), according to the MER’s operational report.
Q COSTARICA — Hours after President Laura Fernández indicated she would activate “all mechanisms at her disposal” to eliminate the trade embargo Panama has imposed on several Costa Rican products since 2019, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino ordered the “immediate and indefinite suspension” of electricity sales to Costa Rica.
The neighboring country’s decision is significant, considering that the El Niño phenomenon will cause a 30% reduction in rainfall in Costa Rica, which could affect the electricity supply and increase prices.
“I strongly believe in the guiding principle of international relations, which is reciprocity, and believe me, that reciprocity will be exercised in all matters related to our relationship with Costa Rica.
“For now, there are no energy sales to Costa Rica; it’s that simple.
The Panamanian newspaper, La Estrella, reported on Thursday that the Panamanian president also questioned the tone used by the new Costa Rican government to publicly air the bilateral conflict.
Mulino insisted that disagreements between two neighboring countries should not be handled from “platforms” or public conferences, in clear reference to the recent statements made by the Costa Rican president during an agricultural tour.
“International relations are based on great prudence (…) it’s not through a pulpit, a platform, or a press conference that one makes statements that directly affect the relationship between two countries, especially neighbors and friends,” said the Panamanian president.
Mulino added he was “surprised” by the Costa Rican reaction, given that Panamanian and Costa Rican authorities had already met to discuss these energy sales plans, which he did not elaborate on.
“The foreign policy of countries is conducted with discretion, moderation, and respect,” Mulino stated, adding that Panama will apply a policy of “reciprocity” with Costa Rica.
“This is an important issue for Costa Rica, but it is also important for Panama, and it is my duty to protect Panamanians,” he added.
The conflict between the two countries stems from restrictions imposed by Panama between 2019 and 2020 on the import of agricultural products from Costa Rica, including bananas, plantains, beef, pork, chicken, strawberries, pineapples, and dairy products.
Panama argued at the time that the restrictions were due to health reasons and the failure of Costa Rican exporting companies to renew their permits. However, Costa Rica took the case to the World Trade Organization (WTO), alleging unjustified trade barriers.
In 2024, a WTO arbitration panel ruled partially in favor of Costa Rica, rejecting Panama’s main argument regarding the alleged insufficiency of scientific evidence related to specific agricultural products.
Far from settling the case, Panama filed an appeal in January 2025, a process that remains unresolved.
Mulino defended Panama’s position and asserted that for years, Panamanian companies had also faced obstacles in accessing the Costa Rican market.
“For more than ten years, countless Panamanian companies that operated and worked in Costa Rica were blocked and did not enter that country,” he stated.
“I will not allow national producers to be mistreated by blockades that have no legal basis. People are losing millions in Costa Rica—dairy, potato, and onion producers… We are going to activate all the mechanisms at our disposal to achieve justice for Costa Rican agriculture,” Fernández said at Wednesday’s press conference.
Energy Shock
Although Panama is not the region’s leading electricity exporter, it is a significant player in the Central American Regional Electricity Market (MER).
MER operational data shows that Costa Rica imported approximately 687.4 GWh of energy from Panama during 2024. The neighboring country is also the region’s leading electricity exporter, with nearly 49.8% of the regional market share, followed by Guatemala and Panama.
The measure announced by Mulino does not imply an immediate blackout for Costa Rica, but it does constitute a high-impact political and commercial signal.
Q COSTARICA — Juan Santamaría (San José) International Airport has opened a new arrivals area in the International Terminal as part of its modernization process in Costa Rica.
The infrastructure incorporates improvements in layout, expanded spaces, and operational efficiency to optimize passenger arrivals in the country.
The new area covers 3,800 square meters, part of the International Terminal expansion outlined in the airport’s Master Plan.
The total investment amounts to US$62 million and includes more than 10,000 additional square meters under development to the west.
Among the improvements are expanded areas for baggage inspection and processes for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and Customs.
Also included are spaces for car rentals, a business center, and a meeting plaza for passengers and their families.
“A passenger’s arrival in the country represents one of the most important moments in their travel experience,” highlighted Ricardo Hernández, CEO of AERIS.
He added that the new area allows for more efficient spaces, aligned with Costa Rica’s tourism and business development goals.
In this regard, the infrastructure incorporates sustainability standards, LED lighting, CCTV surveillance systems, and optimized signage.
Furthermore, the design prioritizes greater spaciousness, more comfortable waiting areas, and a more organized passenger flow within the terminal.
Authorities also indicated that the project was carried out in coordination with entities such as CETAC-MOPT, DGAC, and OFGI.
With a collaborative effort, it was possible to move forward with the project without interrupting operations or passenger service.
Q24N — With the indictment of Raúl Castro, the United States has set its sights on the most influential figure of the Cuban regime in recent decades.
The former revolutionary fighter, Minister of the Armed Forces for nearly half a century, successor to his brother Fidel, and architect of the communist regime’s most significant reforms, now faces, at 94, a trial in a neighboring country with unpredictable consequences.
The United States justice system attributes to him a central role in the downing of two planes belonging to the Brothers to the Rescue exile organization on February 24, 1996, an incident that left four dead and triggered one of the biggest crises in relations between Cuba and the United States.
Raúl Castro faces four counts of murder, as well as conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and destruction of aircraft, U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Wednesday from Miami.
Raúl Castro with Díaz-Canel at the May Day parade in 2026.
A Crucial Figure
The case takes on great significance, not only because of the precedent of Nicolás Maduro’s capture last January, but also because of the central role of Army General Raúl Castro in Cuba’s contemporary history.
Always in the shadow of his brother Fidel, he was a crucial figure within the regime’s military and intelligence apparatus until formally assuming power in 2008 and governing the country for a decade.
Although he handed over the presidency to Miguel Díaz-Canel in 2018 and three years later the leadership of the Communist Party, analysts believe he remains the most powerful man in the Cuban power structure.
His potential prosecution also comes at one of the most delicate moments for the island in decades.
Cuba is experiencing an extreme economic and energy crisis, marked by blackouts and fuel shortages, exacerbated by pressure from the Trump administration in the United States.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Cuban officials, including figures close to Raúl Castro, have held discreet meetings in Havana to discuss the island’s uncertain future.
The nonagenarian leader is notable for having maintained a traditional family life, unlike his brother Fidel, known for his numerous, varied, and secret love affairs.
Raúl Castro was married to Vilma Espín, a prominent revolutionary whom he met during the guerrilla movement that overthrew the Batista regime and who died of cancer in 2007.
The couple had four children, including Mariela Castro Espín—a member of the National Assembly of People’s Power and Director of the National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX)—and Alejandro Castro Espín, Director of Intelligence and Counterintelligence for State Security.
In contrast to the widespread revolutionary iconography of Fidel and Che, Raúl Castro cultivated a more understated, pragmatic, and militaristic image without developing a massive personality cult.
Despite this, it is common to see his portrait hanging on the wall—almost always next to Fidel’s—in the offices of Cuban government agencies.
We analyze who Raúl Castro is and his crucial relevance in the history and present of Cuba.
The President of Reforms and the Thaw (2008-2018)
Although he participated in the revolutionary struggle from a very young age alongside Fidel and Ernesto “Che” Guevara, and for decades played a key role within the Cuban military apparatus, Raúl Castro reached his greatest prominence after assuming power between 2006 and 2008.
He inherited the presidency provisionally in 2006, after his brother became seriously ill, and two years later, he was officially appointed president of Cuba.
Unlike Fidel Castro’s charismatic and ideological style, the younger of the brothers projected a more pragmatic image and was less prone to grandiloquent speeches.
During his presidency, he implemented economic reforms that, although very limited, were the most significant since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
His government expanded the space for small private businesses, authorized the buying and selling of homes and cars, eased some immigration restrictions, and promoted tentative openings to the market.
He also reduced part of the enormous Cuban state apparatus and fostered new forms of self-employment.
However, these reforms coexisted with the continuation of the one-party political system established after the 1959 revolution.
With Raúl Castro at the helm, international human rights organizations continued to denounce the lack of freedom of expression and civil and political rights, as well as the repression of dissidents.
The most significant moment of his presidency came in 2014, when he announced, together with then-US President Barack Obama, the beginning of the historic diplomatic thaw between Cuba and the United States after more than half a century of hostility.
Raúl Castro and Barack Obama, during one of their meetings in 2015 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
That historic rapprochement allowed for the reopening of embassies, increased travel and contact between the two countries, and Obama’s visit to Havana in 2016, an unprecedented event since the 1959 Revolution.
When Fidel Castro died in 2016, Raúl Castro led the official farewell to the Cuban leader: he announced his death on television, organized the state funeral, and vowed to defend the continuity of the socialist system.
As for the thaw, many of the expectations for economic and political openness were limited, and part of the process began to reverse with Donald Trump’s arrival at the White House in 2017, a year before Castro’s transfer of power to Díaz-Canel.
Fidel and Che’s Comrade in Arms
Raúl Castro was born on June 3, 1931, in Birán, in eastern Cuba, into a well-to-do family. His father was Ángel Castro, an immigrant from Galicia, and his mother was Lina Ruz.
Like his brother Fidel, he studied at religious schools in Santiago de Cuba before moving to Havana to continue his secondary and university education.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, he became involved in protest movements against the governments of Carlos Prío Socarrás and later against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista (1952-58).
Unlike Fidel Castro, whose political formation was initially more closely tied to Cuban nationalism, Raúl soon developed sympathies toward Soviet socialism.
He joined the youth wing of the Popular Socialist Party and participated in youth gatherings organized in Eastern Europe, experiences that decisively influenced his political views, according to historians and sources close to him.
His definitive entry into the revolutionary struggle occurred in 1953, when he joined the armed movement led by Fidel Castro against Batista.
At just 22 years old, Raúl participated in the attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba, a failed operation that, despite resulting in dozens of deaths and the imprisonment of the Castro brothers, would later become one of the main founding myths of the Cuban Revolution.
After benefiting from an amnesty in 1956, Raúl left with Fidel for Mexico, where he participated in the preparations for the Granma yacht expedition alongside other exiles and the Argentine Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
The Granma landing in Cuba marked the beginning of the Sierra Maestra guerrilla war, which would culminate in the fall of Batista and the triumph of the Revolution on January 1, 1959.
The General in Fidel’s Shadow
Raúl Castro quickly became one of the most powerful figures in the new regime led by his brother Fidel in 1959.
That same year, he was appointed Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, a position he would hold for almost half a century, from which he consolidated one of the most robust military and intelligence apparatuses in Latin America.
Experts identify him as the man responsible at that time for guaranteeing the internal stability of the system and as Fidel Castro’s right-hand man.
Unlike his brother’s international profile and charismatic leadership, Raúl maintained a more discreet profile, focused on controlling the Armed Forces and organizing the State.
In the early decades of the new system, he played a crucial role, according to experts, in strengthening the alliance with the Soviet Union and building the Cuban political model inspired by the socialist regimes of the Eastern Bloc.
He was also identified for years by exiles and human rights organizations as one of the most ruthless figures, who did not hesitate to repress or eliminate those he considered enemies of the Revolution.
With Raúl Castro at the head of the Armed Forces, on February 24, 1996, Cuban fighter jets shot down two small planes belonging to the exile organization Brothers to the Rescue, which were flying over waters near Cuba to assist rafters fleeing by sea to the United States.
The military attack on the planes resulted in the deaths of four people.
Carlos Costa, who was piloting one of the two planes, was one of the four Brothers to the Rescue activists who died in the attack.
While the Cuban government claimed that they had violated the island’s airspace, international investigations concluded that they were shot down in international airspace, triggering a serious diplomatic crisis between Cuba and the United States.
The indictment announced now by Washington revolves precisely around that episode.
Historical recordings revealed years ago by US media capture Raúl Castro’s voice apparently ordering action against the aircraft, including phrases like “shoot down the planes.”
This evidence could be crucial in the trial.
His Power After Retirement
Although he formally relinquished the presidency to Miguel Díaz-Canel in 2018, the younger Castro remained First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, the most powerful position within the regime.
When he also passed on this position to Díaz-Canel in 2021, Cuban authorities presented it as the symbolic end of the historic generation of the Revolution that had governed the country since 1959.
However, experts maintain that Raúl has continued to wield enormous influence over the state’s strategic decisions, especially in military and security matters, as well as relations with the United States.
After his official retirement, he continued to appear at key regime events, such as military parades and revolutionary commemorations, generally alongside Díaz-Canel and the leadership of the ruling party.
On July 11, 2021, the largest anti-government demonstrations in more than six decades took place on the island, to which the regime responded with thousands of arrests and imprisonments.
Although Díaz-Canel publicly led the official response, the security and political control structures that Raúl Castro had controlled for decades played a decisive role, according to experts.
Meanwhile, Cuba was entering its worst crisis since the Special Period of the 1990s.
The tightening of US sanctions under Donald Trump, the economic impact of the pandemic, the collapse of tourism, and the energy crisis exacerbated the economic and social deterioration that the island had already been experiencing for decades and triggered a mass exodus in which the island lost up to 20% of its population, according to estimates.
Meanwhile, Raúl Castro’s family circle has emerged as one of the main centers of influence in Cuba: his grandson and bodyguard Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as “El Cangrejo” (The Crab), was mentioned by US media as one of the intermediaries in the recent, discreet contacts between Washington and Havana.
Castro’s last public appearance to date was at the traditional May Day parade where, dressed in his military uniform, he accompanied Díaz-Canel and other figures of the Cuban regime.
Q COSTARICA — With the arrest of 47-year-old Francisco Javier Alfaro Flores, the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ)—Judicial Investigation Agency—concluded a nearly decade-long investigation into an alleged money laundering network linked to drug trafficking in Costa Rica.
The network operated through a chain of gyms, the purchase of luxury properties, the acquisition of exclusive vehicles, and a partnership in a recycling company.
The OIJ has dubbed the case “Lusso,” the Italian word for luxury.
Michael Soto, director of the OIJ, reported that at least 17 raids were carried out starting at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, on properties located in Alajuela, Pérez Zeledón, Escazú, and Heredia, Costa Rica. He explained that the Specialized Office Against Organized Crime (OECD) is investigating the Lusso case for the alleged crime of money laundering.
The case is linked to a drug plane found abandoned in 2016 in western Nicaragua, which allegedly departed from Costa Rica. According to Soto, the investigation never stopped and maintains ties to drug trafficking structures identified in the cases known as Torero and Manantiales.
A Drug Plane
According to LA PRENSA (leading newspaper in Nicaragua) archives, around 8:30 a.m. on January 13, 2016, the Nicaraguan National Police located a white plane with Costa Rican registration TI-ATR in the Los Lirios sector of Puerto Morazán, in the municipality of Chinandega. Inside, they found 89.442 kilograms of cocaine, distributed in three suitcases.
The aircraft had taken off from Tobías Bolaños Airport in Pavas, Costa Rica, with a declared destination of Punta Islita and Tamarindo, also in Costa Rica. However, it crashed in Nicaraguan territory. The pilot and co-pilot, identified as Daniel Campos Barrantes, 36, and Jorge Enrique Arias Vargas, 32, were located two days later in Costa Rica.
Records from that year in LA PRENSA indicate that both men were found bound on the San José-Guápiles highway and claimed to have been kidnapped. According to La Nación, on January 15, authorities responded to a report of a possible rollover in the area, but the discovery turned out to be even more unusual.
They were the pilot and co-pilot of the drug plane that had crashed in Nicaragua. Both stated that several men with a “Colombian accent” stole the aircraft from them in Guanacaste, where it had allegedly been loaded with drugs.
The cocaine was incinerated on January 14, 2016, on a property belonging to the León Judicial Complex.
More drugs found
At that time, the men said they had not eaten for two days and were taken to a hospital in Heredia. Ten days after the discovery of the plane in Chinandega, the Nicaraguan Police reported that more drugs had been found. It is presumed that this new shipment was found at the same location where the small plane crashed. It consisted of five more bricks of cocaine, weighing a total of 5,290 grams.
Rumors circulated that two of the bricks were found buried in the Cuatro Esquinas de Amayo community, located south of the sugarcane field where the aircraft crashed, but the police never confirmed this.
This episode, which remained unresolved at the time, was reopened by Costa Rican authorities.
“According to our preliminary investigation, this network is linked to the Manantiales case and the Torero case: those cases involved drug trafficking, and we could summarize that this one stems from that same line of inquiry,” stated the director of the OIJ, referring to the Lusso case file.
Costa Rica’s Attorney General Carlo Díaz explained that this is “an investigation by the Money Laundering Prosecutor’s Office, which is following up on two previous international drug trafficking cases.” The only difference is that now they are “focused on money laundering.”
A mansion valued at US$3 million
Francisco Javier Alfaro Flores, a Nicaraguan who is a naturalized Costa Rican, is the alleged ringleader of a money laundering operation. He and seven other suspects were arrested on Monday, including two women, one of whom shares the surname Alfaro.
It is presumed that she is related to him, as Soto explained that the network also included members of his family.
Ten high-end vehicles were seized during the raids, some considered exclusive in the country, all with an approximate value of US$2.7 million. Among them was a US$400,000 Lamborghini, of which only four exist in the country. In addition, cash and an AR-15 rifle were confiscated.
Alfaro Flores managed to acquire numerous properties and assets throughout the country. The network allegedly operated a chain of gyms, from which nearly 400 machines and weights were seized. It also owned luxury properties, including a mansion valued at up to US$3 million dollars, complete with a private cinema, gym, jacuzzi, and swimming pool.
He is also linked to a recycling company and listed as a shareholder in several companies, including Inversiones y Desarrollos Aguilar Ellis S.A., and Importadora de Motos RJ Alajuela S.A., among others.
Regarding the case, the director of the OIJ added that the raids were continuing as part of the money laundering investigation and that further details about the operations carried out in conjunction with the OECD would be provided.
Q COSTARICA — Travel between Orlando, Florida and Costa Rica , here’s something important to know.
After Spirit Airlines shut down its operations earlier this month, JetBlue has now announced it will stop nonstop flights between Costa Rica and Orlando, Florida (MCO), starting July 8.
Right now, JetBlue operates one flight a day between these two cities.
This was confirmed by Costa Rica’s tourism board, the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT).
According to Hermes Navarro, ICT’s head of investment attraction and air connectivity, the airline is making route adjustments due to rising fuel costs linked to the global situation. JetBlue is also focusing on routes with less competition, especially building up its Fort Lauderdale hub.
So, if you want to fly to Orlando, your options are now down to three: Volaris, Southwest, and Frontier. Volaris and Southwest offer daily service, while Frontier flies twice a week—on Thursdays and Sundays.
JetBlue will keep flying to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Miami (MIA) from Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José and the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Guanacaste.
Meanwhile, American Airlines, Avianca, and Copa Airlines will continue their flights between Costa Rica and Miami (MIA).
RICO’s Q — President Laura Fernández has had a busy week, diving straight into a series of meetings starting Monday with members of the Legislative Assembly and key figures from the judicial branches, including the Courts and the Fiscalía.
One of the more notable moments came when opposition legislators raised complaints about their cell phones being checked as they entered the meeting at Casa Presidencial. This move gives a clear glimpse into how Chaves and Laura run things. But it begs the question: what exactly are they trying to hide? What’s behind this fear?
It has been a busy week for our new president, Laura Fernández, holding a series of meetings since Monday with members of the Legislative Assembly and the judicial branches of the government, the Courts, and the Fiscalía.
Cell phones ban
The meeting was held in a public building, Casa Presidencial (Government House), and no rule or law gives government officials the authority to ban cell phones.
Two legislators, Claudia Dobles from the Coalición Agenda Ciudadana (CAC) and Abril Gordienko of the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), publicly criticized the new president’s actions.
Laura would NEVER have reached the presidency without Rodrigo
Meanwhile, Fernández left some people wondering what she meant when she pointed out that Magistrate Orlando Aguirre, the Chief Justice of Costa Rica’s Supreme Court, had served for 37 years, while she herself is just 39 years old.
Is it really the Chief Justice’s fault that Laura, who isn’t even 40, was chosen by Rodrigo Chaves, a 66-year-old, to be Costa Rica’s president? Because there is an undeniable truth: without Rodrigo Chaves choosing Laura as his presidential candidate, this 39-year-old would NEVER have reached the presidency.
The method for selecting judges was set up by the creators of the 1949 Constitution—not something the current judges came up with. When Laura criticizes the judges, she acts like they built the Judiciary system themselves. But really, it’s the Constitution that lays it all out, and Laura, at 39, swore to uphold.
There’s always room for improvement in everything we do, including the Judiciary. Yet, Laura and Rodrigo Chaves have spent four years pointing fingers without ever proposing a single bill to boost the Judiciary’s efficiency.
They, Laura and Rodrigo, are more interested in attacking the magistrates, who asked to lift Rodrigo Chaves’ immunity, for the “BCIE-Cariñitos” case and the $32,000 that Choreco received.
Attorney General is a ‘national disgrace’
Though the meetings took place behind closed doors—and sometimes the guests weren’t allowed to have their phones, even though they had them—news still got out that Laura Fernández insulted the Attorney General, Carlo Diaz, calling him a “national disgrace
No one should doubt that:
Rodrigo Chaves and Laura’s top priority is to seize control of the Judiciary.
This gives them control over every criminal investigation in the country, allowing them to weaponize that power against their political enemies—just like in every autocratic
With a Judiciary dominated by Chavismo, Rodrigo Chaves and Laura will face no real limits in their abuses of power. Their opening move is to target the Attorney General and all the Magistrates to clear the way.
It’s time for the leaders of the biggest groups in the Assembly—Álvaro Ramírez from the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), holding 17 seats, and José María Villalta of the Frente Amplio with 7 seats—need to step up. We’re facing a real threat to our freedoms and the rule of law.
When will they, along with Claudia Dobles, Abril Gordienko, and enough of the 31 ruling party, the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO) legislators, realize that Chavismo wants total control of the Judiciary, and that the “reforms” they have proposed are not aimed at strengthening judicial independence, but rather at weakening the neutrality and impartiality of that branch of government?
Cuba's former President Raul Castro waves a Cuban national flag during the commemoration of May Day (Labour Day), marking International Workers' Day, at Havana's Revolution Square on May 1, 2025. (Photo by YAMIL LAGE / AFP)
Q24N — The U.S. government on Wednesday indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro on charges of murder, conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens, and destruction of an aircraft in connection with the downing of two Cuban planes in 1996.
These charges represent a further escalation of the pressure Washington is exerting on the communist island, which has been under an embargo since 1959 and is now reeling from a severe economic crisis.
Raúl Castro, now 94, was serving as Minister of Defense at the time.
A Miami judge lifted the secrecy order on the case, which for years was championed by the Cuban exile community in Florida, one of President Donald Trump’s key electoral strongholds.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered Cubans a “new relationship” between his country and Cuba in a special video message in which he accused the island’s communist leadership of theft, corruption, and oppression.
“President Trump is offering a new relationship between the United States and Cuba, but it has to be directly with you, the Cuban people,” the Secretary of State stated.
These announcements were made on May 20, the day the Republic of Cuba was declared in 1902, following its independence from Spain and the end of the U.S. military occupation.
The island’s communist government prioritizes other dates in its historical narrative, such as the triumph of the Cuban Revolution on January 1, 1959, arguing that after 1902, the island remained under the de facto control of Washington due to the Platt Amendment.
“Intervention, interference, dispossession, frustration. That’s what May 20th means in the history of Cuba,” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel reacted on X.
Raúl Castro, who succeeded his brother Fidel as president of Cuba, initiated a historic rapprochement with the United States in 2015 under the presidency of Barack Obama, which was later called into question by Trump.
The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Nicaragua, maintaining the country at Level 3, a category that advises its citizens to reconsider travel due to critical security factors. U.S. News
According to the alert shared by the U.S. Embassy in Managua, the decision to maintain this rating is due to a combination of serious risks, including widespread crime, limited access to healthcare, wrongful detention, and the arbitrary application of local laws by Nicaraguan authorities.
The State Department considers that Americans “face a serious risk of wrongful detention” by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo in Nicaragua.
“U.S. citizens who are wrongfully detained may remain in prison for years, in deplorable conditions, without due process or regular access to U.S. government personnel or their families,” the statement notes.
The United States maintained Nicaragua’s Level 3 travel advisory and urged its citizens to reconsider any travel to the country due to risks related to detentions, crime, and legal restrictions.
The State Department warned of electronic device searches, potential arbitrary arrests, and limitations on providing consular assistance to U.S. citizens detained in Nicaragua.
The inspection and confiscation of mobile devices
The warning describes a highly restrictive environment where expulsions and confiscations of property are carried out without prior notice.
Border inspectors can search phones, computers, and social media accounts for anti-government content, and may also confiscate drones, cameras, or binoculars.
Given this scenario, the State Department’s recommendation to avoid detention is simply to avoid traveling to Nicaragua.
If you decide to travel, they strongly advise citizens to delete any confidential photos or comments that could be considered controversial from social media and electronic devices before arriving in Nicaragua, maintain a low profile, and develop an emergency evacuation plan that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
The aircraft had taken off from Tobías Bolaños Airport in Pavas, Costa Rica, with a declared destination of Punta Islita and Tamarindo, also in Costa Rica. However, it crashed in Nicaraguan territory. The pilot and co-pilot, identified as Daniel Campos Barrantes, 36, and Jorge Enrique Arias Vargas, 32, were located two days later in Costa Rica.
