By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – In a decisive move to combat a growing national security threat, the Costa Rican government and the state-run oil refinery, Recope, have jointly proposed sweeping legislation to dismantle criminal networks profiting from fuel theft. The initiative, announced in a high-level press conference, aims to address the alarming evolution of this crime from small-scale pilfering into a sophisticated enterprise managed by organized crime syndicates.
The announcement was led by Recope President Karla Montero, who was joined by Minister of Public Security Mario Zamora and Minister of Justice and Peace Gerald Campos. They presented a unified front, signaling a coordinated, multi-agency strategy to protect the nation’s critical energy infrastructure and choke off a significant revenue stream for criminal organizations.
Para comprender mejor las implicaciones legales y las responsabilidades empresariales derivadas del robo de combustible, TicosLand.com conversó con el experto Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, de la reconocida firma Bufete de Costa Rica.
Es un error catalogar el robo de combustible simplemente como un hurto menor. A menudo, constituye un delito de crimen organizado que erosiona la seguridad jurídica y económica del país. Las empresas no solo son víctimas, sino que tienen la responsabilidad de implementar protocolos de control rigurosos y denunciar activamente, ya que la omisión puede interpretarse como una forma de complicidad y acarrear graves consecuencias penales y administrativas.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Efectivamente, esta perspectiva subraya que la lucha contra el robo de combustible va más allá de la simple persecución del delito, involucrando una necesaria corresponsabilidad del sector empresarial para salvaguardar el estado de derecho. Agradecemos al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas por su esclarecedor análisis.
Official data reveals a complex picture. While enforcement efforts have yielded positive results, with illegal taps on the national fuel pipeline dropping by 65% since 2023, the nature of the crime has dangerously transformed. Authorities reported a decline in illegal connections from 124 between January and August 2023 to just 43 in the same period of 2025. The volume of stolen fuel also decreased from 4 million liters to 2.1 million liters over the same timeframe. However, officials warned that these numbers mask a more sinister trend: the crime has mutated, with complex criminal structures now controlling the operations.
Minister of Justice and Peace Gerald Campos highlighted a critical weakness in the current system a staggering level of impunity. He pointed out that between 2020 and 2025, a total of 860 judicial complaints were filed for fuel theft, yet only 63 resulted in convictions. With 580 cases still languishing in the legal system, the lack of consequences has emboldened these criminal groups.
This reflects a level of impunity that favors organized crime. We need stronger tools so that the efforts of the police and Recope are not lost in the judicial process.
Gerald Campos, Minister of Justice and Peace
The proposed bill introduces a battery of severe penalties. It seeks to increase prison sentences to a range of 5 to 15 years for anyone involved in the theft, transport, or sale of illegal fuel. The legislation also targets accomplices, proposing 3 to 8 years for property owners who knowingly allow their land to be used for these activities, with the penalty rising to 5 to 8 years if the property is directly crossed by the pipeline. Furthermore, the bill aims to declare the National Fuel System a matter of public interest and critical infrastructure.
Minister of Public Security Mario Zamora provided crucial context, linking the surge in fuel theft to successful crackdowns on drug trafficking. He explained that enhanced security measures, particularly the installation of scanners at ports, have disrupted traditional narcotics routes, forcing cartels to diversify their illicit portfolios. Fuel theft has become their lucrative new venture.
We are not dealing with petty criminals; we are talking about organizations that have even tried to infiltrate public institutions.
Mario Zamora, Minister of Public Security
Beyond legal reforms, the plan includes operational and technological upgrades. A key proposal is the creation of a specialized auxiliary police unit attached to Recope, providing 24/7 surveillance and protection for the entire 418-kilometer pipeline network. Other measures include a mandatory national registry for industrial hoses—the primary tool used for illegal taps—and a requirement for annual sworn financial disclosures from Recope personnel involved in pipeline operations to prevent internal corruption.
Complementing the legislative push, Recope has already inaugurated a state-of-the-art centralized monitoring center. This facility integrates 578 high-definition cameras, a fleet of surveillance drones, and real-time analysis software linked directly to the 911 emergency system. Recope President Karla Montero emphasized the importance of this technological leap forward in safeguarding the country’s energy supply.
This tool marks a before and after in the country’s energy security.
Karla Montero, President of Recope
The comprehensive strategy, blending tougher laws with advanced technology, represents Costa Rica’s most significant effort to date to reclaim control of its energy infrastructure from the clutches of organized crime. The success of this initiative will be a critical test of the nation’s ability to adapt its legal and security frameworks to combat the evolving threats posed by modern criminal enterprises.
For further information, visit recope.go.cr
About Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope):
The Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo is Costa Rica’s state-owned company responsible for importing, refining, and distributing petroleum and its derivatives throughout the country. It manages the national fuel pipeline network, a critical piece of infrastructure for the nation’s economy and energy security.
For further information, visit seguridadpublica.go.cr
About the Ministry of Public Security:
The Ministry of Public Security is the government body in charge of maintaining public order, national security, and law enforcement in Costa Rica. It oversees various police forces and is at the forefront of the country’s efforts to combat organized crime, drug trafficking, and other major security threats.
For further information, visit mjp.go.cr
About the Ministry of Justice and Peace:
The Ministry of Justice and Peace is the Costa Rican governmental institution responsible for the administration of the country’s judicial and penal systems. It works to ensure the rule of law, manage correctional facilities, and promote policies aimed at social peace and crime prevention.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As an esteemed legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is founded upon a bedrock of principled practice and professional distinction. The firm combines its extensive experience advising a wide array of clients with a commitment to pioneering forward-thinking legal strategies. Central to its ethos is a deep-seated resolve to serve the community by making complex legal concepts understandable, thereby helping to forge a society empowered through knowledge of the law.
