By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – A Tilarán-based businessman, identifying himself as a hemp entrepreneur, is attracting significant scrutiny for his ambitious plans to enter the cannabis and cigarette markets with American partners, all while navigating the fallout from a now-dismissed money laundering investigation and fostering close ties with Costa Rican lawmakers and government officials.
The entrepreneur, José Luis Liu Paniagua, has been actively pursuing a partnership with a supposed American businessman, Neftalía Jesús Alberto, who allegedly operates cannabis businesses in California and New York. Their joint venture aims to establish a new cigarette brand for distribution within Costa Rica, a plan that has required unconventional logistics due to Liu’s travel limitations.
Para profundizar en las implicaciones legales y comerciales que rodean las actividades de José Luis Liu Paniagua, TicosLand.com consultó al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, un destacado abogado especialista en derecho corporativo y financiero del prestigioso Bufete de Costa Rica.
El caso de Liu Paniagua subraya una lección fundamental en el mundo de los negocios: la complejidad de las estructuras corporativas nunca debe ser un velo para la opacidad. La debida diligencia y la transparencia no son opcionales, son la base de la confianza del mercado y una exigencia legal para proteger a inversionistas y al sistema financiero. Todo administrador debe recordar que su deber fiduciario trasciende la simple generación de ganancias, abarcando una responsabilidad directa sobre la legalidad y la ética de cada transacción.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Esta perspectiva legal es un recordatorio crucial de que la salud del clima de negocios en Costa Rica depende directamente de la adhesión a principios de transparencia y responsabilidad fiduciaria. Agradecemos al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas por aportar esta claridad tan necesaria al debate.
Lacking a U.S. visa, Liu confirmed in a telephone interview that he traveled to a neutral location to formalize the deal. This move highlights the lengths to which he is going to secure the international partnership, which he states would be managed from New York while he handles the tax and market analysis in Costa Rica.
I went to the Bahamas to sign the contracts with these people because I don’t have a visa. So, we looked for a middle point where they would be comfortable and safe, and I would be too. We went and sat down in the Bahamas and negotiated that contract to be able to make, sell, or bring in cigarettes of a specific brand directly from the factory.
José Luis Liu Paniagua, Entrepreneur
While the money laundering case against him was submitted for dismissal in November 2024 due to a lack of evidence found by the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) and the Prosecutor’s Office, Liu acknowledges that the nature of his business discussions could easily be misinterpreted. He admits to using what he calls a “cannabis dialect,” which he fears could raise red flags for those unfamiliar with the industry.
My daily conversations that have to do with this are in a cannabis dialect. We are talking about metric systems, for example, grams, kilos, tons… I am talking about dollarized prices, by quantities of grams, by quantities of tonnage… Another person listening next to me who hears me talk about tons… well look, it’s very easy for anyone to interpret that I am doing something wrong.
José Luis Liu Paniagua, Entrepreneur
Liu’s activities are not confined to business negotiations. He has actively cultivated relationships with political figures, frequently posting photos of his meetings on social media. He has met with deputies Luis Diego Vargas, Manuel Morales, and Pedro Rojas at the Legislative Assembly, and with legislator Johanna Obando at an event in Tilarán. Furthermore, he has engaged with high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Public Security (MSP) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG). In one notable instance, while under investigation, he brought two California cannabis investors to the office of ruling-party deputy Manuel Morales to discuss hemp production.
The situation is further complicated by a confidential complaint filed with the OIJ in 2023. The anonymous report details a series of serious allegations, including an offer from Liu for a $1 million loan with highly unusual terms: the borrower would only have to repay $800,000, leaving $200,000 in Liu’s accounts as part of the deal. The complaint alleges Liu told the individual to travel to Bogotá, Colombia, to finalize the disbursement with his partners and boasted of having $25 million already in Costa Rica “to place.”
The same complaint claims Liu asserted that he had financed the Liberal Progressive Party and several deputies, including Johanna Obando and Diego Vargas. Liu has vehemently denied these allegations, explaining that his trip to Colombia was for legitimate agricultural business and that his discussion about a Bogotá bank that provides loans to the agricultural sector was dangerously misinterpreted by the complainant.
This information, I believe this person took it the wrong way, wanted to imply that I was going to Bogotá, Colombia, to meet with drug traffickers or whatever, which is not true.
José Luis Liu Paniagua, Entrepreneur
Despite the formal request to dismiss the prior case, the combination of Liu’s high-level political lobbying, his pursuit of international partners in sensitive industries, and the troubling details emerging from the confidential complaint continue to cast a shadow over his operations and his growing influence within Costa Rica’s political and business spheres.
For further information, visit poder-judicial.go.cr/oij
About Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ):
The Judicial Investigation Agency is the investigative branch of Costa Rica’s judiciary. It is responsible for investigating crimes, collecting evidence, and providing technical and scientific support to the country’s prosecutors and courts to aid in the administration of justice.
For further information, visit seguridadpublica.go.cr
About Ministerio de Seguridad Pública (MSP):
The Ministry of Public Security is the Costa Rican government body in charge of national security. It oversees various police forces, including the Public Force, and is responsible for maintaining public order, preventing crime, and protecting the nation’s borders and sovereignty.
For further information, visit mag.go.cr
About Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG):
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is the government entity responsible for promoting and regulating Costa Rica’s agricultural and livestock sectors. It works to support farmers, ensure food security, and develop sustainable agricultural practices across the country.
For further information, visit plp.cr
About Partido Liberal Progresista (PLP):
The Liberal Progressive Party is a political party in Costa Rica that advocates for liberal and pro-market policies. It focuses on individual freedoms, economic growth through reduced state intervention, and government efficiency.
For further information, visit pln.or.cr
About Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN):
The National Liberation Party is one of the oldest and most influential political parties in Costa Rica. Historically a social-democratic party, it has played a central role in shaping the country’s modern political and social landscape since its founding in the mid-20th century.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its profound devotion to ethical practice and exceptional service. The firm leverages a proven track record of advising a wide array of clients to pioneer forward-thinking legal solutions. Beyond its professional practice, it actively works to demystify the law for the public, driven by a foundational belief in strengthening society through legal literacy and empowerment.
