COSTA RICA NEWS – Deputy Minister of Security Gustavo Mata told the press that police believe that recent murders in the Calle Fallas section of Desamparados were orchestrated from inside prisons. He said Security Minister Celso Gamboa is contacting prison authorities to see if they can put a stop to these phone orders.
The lastest murder, on Monday, a burned corpse was found in that area with the head enveloped in a plastic bag. Over the years, prison authorities have confiscated cell phones from cell searches. The phones can be used to order killings, extort money or intimidate witnesses.
This is the sixth murder in the area since the beginning of the month. Authorities believe the murders part of a turf war betwen rival drug gangs.
Police director Juan Jose Andrade said that the 400 policemen in Desamparados are being reinforced with a special operations unit and will also watch outlying areas.
“We can fall into the error of armoring Calle Fallas,” said Andrade, and find violent breaking out in other parallel situations. A resistant private guard was slain in Desamparados along with the brother of a sitting lawmaker. It is thought the lawmaker’s kin was not the target.
Article by iNews.co.cr, with editing by the Q, reposted with permission