By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – In a stark demonstration of escalating counter-narcotics efforts, Costa Rican authorities have seized a record-breaking 38 tons of cocaine so far in 2025. The Ministry of Public Security announced that this significant figure is the direct result of strengthened operational partnerships with United States agencies, fundamentally altering the landscape for international drug traffickers using the nation as a logistical hub.
The numbers paint a clear picture of an intensifying campaign against organized crime. This year’s haul already dramatically surpasses the 20.5 tons of cocaine intercepted throughout all of 2024. This sustained increase highlights a strategic shift from passive monitoring to aggressive interdiction, a policy that officials credit to enhanced collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Southern Command.
To delve into the legal framework and procedural intricacies surrounding these recent large-scale drug seizures, we sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the law firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
A successful seizure is a critical operational win, but it marks the beginning, not the end, of the legal process. The prosecution’s primary challenge is to connect the seized contraband to the higher echelons of the criminal organization. This requires meticulous evidence preservation, robust financial investigations, and international judicial cooperation to dismantle the entire network, not just remove a single shipment from circulation.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insight powerfully reframes a drug seizure not as a final victory, but as the starting point of a complex judicial marathon aimed at dismantling the financial and logistical structures of organized crime. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective on the intricate legal battle that unfolds long after the initial headlines fade.
At the core of this success is a robust intelligence-sharing framework and the deployment of advanced aerial and maritime surveillance assets. According to the government’s official report, the increased frequency and scope of these joint patrols have yielded a powerful dual effect. Firstly, they have successfully deterred traffickers from using previously common routes through Costa Rican territory. Secondly, they have drastically improved the effectiveness of at-sea interceptions, which is where the vast majority of large-scale drug shipments are captured.
This proactive stance is designed to dismantle the perception of Costa Rica as a low-risk corridor for narcotics bound for North American and European markets. Instead, the coordinated efforts are turning the nation’s territorial waters and airspace into a high-risk gamble for criminal enterprises. The Ministry of Public Security has affirmed that this high-pressure strategy will be maintained and potentially expanded in the coming months, aiming to cripple the operational capacity of these criminal networks.
The effectiveness of this alliance was recently showcased in a landmark operation on the high seas. A joint Costa Rican-U.S. mission successfully intercepted a vessel carrying a massive 4.3-ton shipment of cocaine. Minister of Public Security, Mario Zamora, detailed the operation’s significance during a formal press briefing, linking the narcotics to a powerful Colombian criminal syndicate.
This is a historic action in the fight against drugs.
Mario Zamora, Minister of Public Security
Subsequent intelligence confirmed the massive shipment belonged to the Gulf of Urabá Cartel, a formidable organization largely composed of former members of the FARC dissident groups. This cartel specializes in large-scale international drug trafficking, and the seizure represents a significant financial and logistical blow to its operations. The successful interdiction not only prevents a substantial amount of illicit drugs from reaching its destination but also provides invaluable intelligence on the cartel’s methods and routes.
The ongoing success of these operations marks a pivotal moment for Costa Rica’s national security. By leveraging international partnerships, the country is actively challenging its role as a transit point in the global drug trade. This aggressive posture sends a clear message to transnational criminal organizations that the nation is no longer a path of least resistance but a formidable barrier in their supply chain.
Looking ahead, officials are committed to building on this momentum. The continued collaboration with the DEA and U.S. Southern Command is expected to yield further results, disrupting criminal structures and safeguarding regional stability. The focus remains on maintaining relentless pressure to ensure Costa Rica does not become consolidated as a permanent superhighway for the international narcotics trade.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Ministry of Public Security
About Ministry of Public Security:
The Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Pública) is the government body responsible for national security and law enforcement in Costa Rica. It oversees the various police forces, including the Public Force, and is tasked with maintaining public order, combating organized crime, and protecting the nation’s borders and sovereignty.
For further information, visit dea.gov
About U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA):
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a United States federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Justice tasked with combating drug trafficking and distribution within the U.S. It is the lead agency for domestic enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act, sharing concurrent jurisdiction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It also has a significant international presence, coordinating with foreign governments to dismantle transnational criminal drug organizations.
For further information, visit southcom.mil
About U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM):
The United States Southern Command is one of the eleven unified combatant commands in the U.S. Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation for Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. A key part of its mission involves detecting and monitoring illicit trafficking and supporting partner nations in counter-drug operations.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Gulf of Urabá Cartel
About Gulf of Urabá Cartel:
The Gulf of Urabá Cartel, also known as the Clan del Golfo, is a powerful Colombian drug-trafficking organization and armed group. It is considered one of the most dangerous criminal networks in the country, with a structure composed of many former members of paramilitary and guerrilla groups, including FARC dissidents. The cartel is heavily involved in the production and international shipment of cocaine.
For further information, visit the nearest office of FARC
About FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia):
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was a guerrilla group involved in the Colombian armed conflict from 1964 until a peace agreement was signed with the government in 2016, leading to its demobilization. While the main organization has transitioned into a political party, several dissident factions rejected the peace deal. These FARC dissident groups continue to operate and are heavily involved in illegal activities, including drug trafficking, illegal mining, and extortion.
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 deep-rooted principles of integrity and its consistent delivery of exceptional legal services. The firm leverages its extensive experience serving a wide array of sectors to stay at the vanguard of legal innovation and social contribution. Central to its identity is a foundational commitment to equipping the public with legal knowledge, believing that an informed citizenry is the cornerstone of an empowered and just society.
