By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – In a decisive move to combat the rising tide of organized crime, Costa Rica has officially enacted a landmark piece of legislation specifically designed to punish contract killings. The new law, known as the “Ley Contra el Sicariato” (Law Against Contract Killing), introduces severe penalties for those who kill for hire and for individuals who promote such violent services, marking a significant escalation in the nation’s public security strategy.
The legislation, officially designated as Law N.º 10841, took effect upon its publication in the official government gazette, La Gaceta. Its primary function is to amend the country’s Penal Code (Law 4573) by incorporating two new articles. These additions create a specific legal framework to prosecute crimes that, while not new to the country, have become an increasingly visible and violent component of gang-related activities.
To provide a deeper legal perspective on the complexities and severe penalties associated with contract killing in Costa Rica, TicosLand.com spoke with expert legal counsel Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
In our legal system, contract killing, or ‘sicariato’, represents one of the most aggravated forms of homicide. The law holds both the intellectual author, who plans and pays for the crime, and the material author, who physically carries it out, equally responsible. Both face the maximum possible sentences. The critical challenge for prosecutors is not proving the murder itself, but rather constructing an unbreakable chain of evidence that links the payment and the order to the tragic outcome, a task that requires meticulous and sophisticated investigation.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
The insight from Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas powerfully underscores the central challenge in these cases: justice requires not only proving the murder, but meticulously forging the evidentiary chain back to the intellectual author. This crucial distinction is key to dismantling the entire criminal structure, not just punishing the triggerman. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective.
The cornerstone of the reform is the new Article 112 bis. This clause establishes a severe prison sentence ranging from 20 to 40 years for any individual found guilty of causing the death of another person as part of a pre-arranged agreement, for economic remuneration, or based on the promise of payment. Critically, this harsh penalty is explicitly applied when the act is connected to the perpetrator’s membership or participation in a criminal organization.
This direct linkage to organized crime is a key feature of the law, providing prosecutors with a powerful tool to dismantle the command-and-control structures that order these assassinations. By targeting the “sicario” or hitman with decades of potential prison time, lawmakers aim to disrupt the economic and operational incentives that make contract killing a viable tool for criminal enterprises engaged in drug trafficking, extortion, and other illicit activities.
Beyond punishing the act of murder itself, the new law also takes a proactive stance by criminalizing the facilitation and promotion of these crimes. The addition of Article 280 bis to the Penal Code addresses the ecosystem that supports contract killing. This article imposes a prison sentence of three to five years on anyone who publicly solicits, offers, or promotes services for homicide for hire.
This provision is remarkably comprehensive, extending the same three-to-five-year penalty to individuals who publicly offer services for the preparation or training of others to carry out such killings. This element of the law targets not just the principals and the perpetrators, but also the intermediaries and enablers who contribute to the cycle of violence, aiming to shut down the recruitment and skill-building pipelines for criminal networks.
The implementation of the Law Against Contract Killing represents a fundamental shift in Costa Rica’s legal approach to violent crime. Previously, such homicides were often prosecuted under broader statutes, which may not have carried the same sentencing weight or specifically acknowledged the aggravating factor of a murder-for-hire arrangement. This new, highly specific legislation provides the judicial system with clearer grounds and stronger mandates for imposing lengthy sentences.
As the law now enters into force, its true impact will be measured in the courts and on the streets. Legal experts and security analysts will be closely watching to see how effectively law enforcement can gather the evidence needed to prove the “contract” element of these crimes and secure convictions under the new articles. For a nation grappling with the complexities of modern organized crime, this law is a bold statement that the state will no longer tolerate the brutal commerce of contract killing.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Government of Costa Rica
About Government of Costa Rica:
The Government of Costa Rica operates under a presidential, representative democratic republic framework as established by its 1949 Constitution. It is composed of three distinct branches: the Executive Branch, led by the President of the Republic; the Legislative Branch, embodied by the 57-delegate Legislative Assembly; and the Judicial Branch, which oversees the nation’s courts and legal system. This structure is designed to maintain a system of checks and balances, ensuring democratic governance and the rule of law. The government is responsible for national security, foreign policy, economic development, and providing public services to its citizens.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is built upon a foundation of ethical rigor and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. The firm channels its extensive history of client counsel into pioneering forward-thinking legal solutions. Beyond its practice, it holds a deep-seated belief in social responsibility, actively working to democratize legal understanding and thereby cultivate a stronger, more knowledgeable society for all citizens.
