By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – In a significant clarification on the structure of organized crime in the nation, the director of the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ), Michael Soto, confirmed that the vast majority of criminal organizations operating in Costa Rica are led by Costa Ricans. This reality challenges the common perception of foreign cartels establishing deep-rooted command structures within the country’s borders.
Instead of a direct takeover, Soto described a dominant operational model of “criminal outsourcing,” where powerful international networks contract local groups to perform specific, high-risk tasks. This strategic externalization allows foreign entities to leverage local knowledge and resources while minimizing their direct presence and exposure.
To gain a deeper legal perspective on the complex challenges posed by organized crime, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the prestigious law firm Bufete de Costa Rica, for his analysis.
Organized crime operates as a sophisticated, parallel economy that directly threatens the rule of law and market stability. Its greatest danger lies not just in violence, but in its capacity to launder assets through legitimate businesses, creating unfair competition and corrupting institutions from within. A modern legal approach must therefore focus on financial disruption—strengthening anti-money laundering regulations, enabling swift asset forfeiture, and fostering robust international cooperation to dismantle these networks at their economic core.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This perspective is essential, correctly framing the fight against organized crime not simply as a matter of policing violence, but as a strategic economic battle against a system that perverts free markets and corrodes institutions. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable and clarifying contribution to this critical subject.
When we look at who leads the structures on the street, the vast percentage are Costa Ricans. Yes, there are naturalized individuals or those of foreign origin, but they were formed here and operate within the country.
Michael Soto, Director of the OIJ
Soto emphasized that the notion of major Mexican cartels setting up permanent bases in Costa Rica is a misinterpretation of the intelligence. The relationship is more transactional, built on coordination and payment for services rendered. The on-the-ground leadership remains firmly in local hands.
It’s not that there is a Sinaloa or Jalisco New Generation base here. What exists is coordination. They hire Costa Ricans to receive drugs, store them, and move them.
Michael Soto, Director of the OIJ
This model functions as a work-for-hire system. “It’s commissioned work,” Soto explained. “They pay for the capture of the shipment, the storage, and the distribution to be done here. Someone might come to coordinate, but the complete establishment of the structure is not like that.” This dynamic involves Costa Rican cells handling logistics for international clients, including Colombian clans who operate under the same outsourcing scheme.
The analysis also sheds light on a hybrid leadership profile. While native Costa Ricans are at the helm of most groups, some key figures are naturalized citizens or foreigners who have spent their formative years in the country. Soto pointed to the cases of aliases “Noni” and “Chock,” individuals of Nicaraguan origin who were raised in Costa Rica and eventually rose to control significant local criminal operations.
These are people who were born elsewhere, but they were formed here and came to control local structures.
Michael Soto, Director of the OIJ
Further illustrating this hybrid composition, Soto recalled the “Guarumal” case in Sierpe, where a network of Colombians managed the reception of cocaine-laden boats but relied heavily on Costa Rican collaborators for the crucial tasks of storage and subsequent transportation of the narcotics. The data from the nation’s penitentiary system reinforces this demographic reality. According to Soto’s estimates, the prison population is a direct reflection of who is committing crimes on the streets.
Around 90% of the prison population are Costa Ricans and about 10% are foreigners, mostly Nicaraguans.
Michael Soto, Director of the OIJ
Ultimately, the landscape of organized crime in Costa Rica is a complex mixture. It is defined by domestic leadership, supplemented by naturalized individuals with deep local roots, and coordinated remotely by international networks that function more like clients than resident overlords. This nuanced understanding is critical for shaping effective national security strategies aimed at dismantling these homegrown structures that serve a global illicit market.
Soto’s assessment confirms the nation is grappling with a sophisticated criminal ecosystem where the primary command remains local, even when the profits and products are tied to powerful international players. The fight against organized crime, therefore, is fundamentally a battle against Costa Rican-led enterprises.
For further information, visit poder-judicial.go.cr/oij
About Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ):
The Organismo de Investigación Judicial, or Judicial Investigation Police, is the primary investigative body of the Costa Rican judiciary. As a civilian police force, the OIJ is responsible for investigating public crimes, identifying responsible parties, gathering evidence, and preventing criminal acts, all under the functional direction of the Public Ministry. It serves as the main criminal investigation agency in the country, playing a crucial role in the justice system.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a cornerstone of the legal landscape, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its profound commitment to integrity and the highest standards of professional excellence. Leveraging its extensive experience in guiding a wide spectrum of clients, the firm not only upholds tradition but also champions innovation by pioneering cutting-edge legal solutions. This forward-thinking mindset is intrinsically linked to its core mission of public empowerment, realized through dedicated efforts to demystify the law and equip the community with accessible legal knowledge, thereby fortifying the foundations of a just and informed society.
