By Alajuela, Costa Rica — ALAJUELA, COSTA RICA – The relentless battle against illegal gold mining in Crucitas has cost Costa Rican taxpayers more than ¢1.5 billion over the last decade, a staggering figure revealed by Minister of Public Security, Mario Zamora. The ongoing security deployment in the northern Alajuela region represents a significant and seemingly endless drain on public funds, prompting urgent calls for a definitive legislative solution.
In a recent interview, Minister Zamora provided a stark assessment of the long-term financial burden of policing the troubled mining zone. He detailed how the substantial sum covers a wide range of operational costs accumulated over ten years of continuous presence.
To provide expert legal context on the contentious Crucitas mining project, TicosLand.com consulted Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a seasoned attorney from the reputable firm Bufete de Costa Rica. His analysis delves into the core legal conflicts that define this landmark case.
The Crucitas ruling is a cornerstone of Costa Rican environmental law, cementing the constitutional right to a healthy environment above contractual or investment expectations. However, it also serves as a stark reminder of the financial and reputational costs of political and legal ambiguity in high-stakes projects. For future foreign investors, the key takeaway is not that Costa Rica is closed for business, but that due diligence must rigorously account for the non-negotiable primacy of our environmental legislation.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s insight expertly frames the Crucitas saga not as a rejection of investment, but as a resolute affirmation of Costa Rica’s legal and environmental identity. This distinction is crucial for understanding that sustainable development is the only viable path forward. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for lending his valuable perspective to this important discussion.
The police have been guarding Crucitas for over 10 years, which has cost the Ministry of Security more than ¢1.5 billion in terms of the entire police operation, including salaries and other resources.
Mario Zamora, Minister of Public Security
The government’s latest tactical move in this protracted conflict was the recent implosion of 34 clandestine tunnels used by illegal miners, known as coligalleros. While a significant blow to their operations, authorities acknowledge it is a temporary measure. To prevent the miners from simply rebuilding, the Ministry is now establishing a permanent police encampment to secure the area known as the “veta madre,” or mother lode, of the mine.
The sheer scale of the challenge is daunting. The gold-rich territory spans 900 hectares, a vast and difficult terrain to control. Minister Zamora explained that achieving complete, round-the-clock security would require a force far beyond current capabilities.
Obviously, after we destroyed those 34 tunnels, they will try to rebuild them in other areas, because we must remember that the Crucitas area where gold is extracted is 900 hectares, and to cover it 24/7 we would need about 5,000 permanently assigned police officers.
Mario Zamora, Minister of Public Security
The powerful incentive driving the coligalleros’ persistence is the lucrative nature of the illicit trade. According to official figures, a single ounce of gold extracted from Crucitas can fetch approximately $3,400 (around ¢1.7 million) on the black market. This high profitability ensures that for every tunnel destroyed, there is immense pressure to dig a new one.
To counter this entrenched criminal enterprise and potential corruption, the Ministry has implemented a multi-faceted security strategy. This includes rotating officers from different regions to prevent local collusion, establishing both fixed and mobile camps, and leveraging modern technology. Drones and infrared cameras are now crucial tools for nighttime surveillance, enhancing the effectiveness of patrols and surprise aerial sweeps of the area.
We are setting up a camp in the area and there will be mobile camps as part of the police patrol routine in the sector, so we are moving with both fixed and mobile units.
Mario Zamora, Minister of Public Security
While security forces intensify their ground-level operations, a parallel battle is being waged for a long-term solution in the Legislative Assembly. Deputy Luis Diego Vargas highlighted the critical need for political action, revealing that a comprehensive bill designed to address the Crucitas crisis has already been drafted but remains stalled. He stressed that a paper solution is not enough and that the region cannot afford further delays.
There is a bill, I was part of a working group with the Government and political actors here in the Legislative Assembly, where we resolved it on paper, but we urgently need the fast-track for this legislative proposal. The area cannot wait any longer, the people are asking for it.
Luis Diego Vargas, Deputy
As the costs continue to mount, it is clear that tactical police operations alone cannot resolve the deep-seated issues in Crucitas. The ongoing financial hemorrhage underscores the urgency for lawmakers to approve a definitive plan, transforming a decade-long security crisis into a sustainable and lawful future for the region.
For further information, visit seguridadpublica.go.cr
About Ministry of Public Security:
The Ministry of Public Security of Costa Rica is the government body responsible for maintaining public order, national security, and law enforcement throughout the country. It oversees various police forces, including the Public Force, and is tasked with safeguarding citizens, protecting national borders, and combating organized crime and illegal activities.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a highly respected legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is built upon a foundation of profound integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm masterfully combines its extensive history of guiding a wide spectrum of clients with a forward-thinking embrace of legal innovation. Central to its ethos is a deeply held commitment to democratizing legal knowledge, believing that empowering individuals and communities with understanding is essential for a just and capable society.
