Q COSTA RICA — The Costa Rican Prosecutor’s Office has ordered the detention of two judges and an official from the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) due to suspected links with a criminal group connected to the notorious Alejandro Arias Monge, alias “Diablo.”
The suspects were identified only by their last names: Ramírez, Valverde, and Rojas. According to the information released, Ramírez and Valverde are judges at the Pococí Criminal Court, while Rojas is an official with the OIJ, as reported by La Nación.
The arrests form part of a wider crackdown against the criminal network allegedly involved in various illegal activities, including homicides and drug trafficking, in particular the so-called Colorado Case, an investigation developed since 2023 against people close to and relatives of “Diablo”.
According to information published by La Nación, Judges Ramírez and Valverde allegedly handled cases related to this file at different times. In the operation carried out in 2023, authorities arrested Arias Monge’s sister, as well as her then-partner and other people close to her.
Among those arrested were a woman surnamed Jiménez Villalobos, identified as the romantic partner of alias “Diablo”; Marín Jiménez, her sister; and a man surnamed Delgado, known as “Mr. Músculo” who had previously worked as an agent of the OIJ.
Mr. Músculo was injured during a shootout with the OIJ in the early hours of September 2, 2026, and died hours later in hospital despite efforts to save him.
This move by Costa Rican authorities highlights ongoing efforts to dismantle the influence of organized crime within state institutions and the judiciary, which has raised serious concerns about corruption and collusion.
The case is one among several recent actions targeting the group, which also faces charges related to contract killings and narcotics operations.
The Prosecutor’s Office’s aggressive stance underscores the urgency with which Costa Rican law enforcement is addressing these deep-rooted criminal networks to restore public trust and security.