Information from the past two weeks.
Security Information [August]
Sept. 13, 2025, 12:05 a.m.
San Jose Prefecture: Former Vice Mayor Arrested for Cocaine Possession (Drug-Related Case)
On August 2, three people were arrested in Romocel, San José, with 37 kilograms of cocaine. One of them was Golfito, who served as vice mayor from 2016 to 2020.
25-year-old man shot dead
At 12:20 a.m. on August 4th, a police officer on patrol in Hatillo, San Jose, was shot by several men. The officer returned fire, hitting a 25-year-old man and killing him.
"Colombian man fires shots at police officers" (shooting incident)
At 11:00 a.m. on August 8th, a San Jose police officer was inspecting a vehicle in San Jose Centro when a Colombian man inside the vehicle suddenly became enraged and attacked the officer. During the struggle, the officer's gun fell, and the Colombian man picked it up and fired at the officer, wounding him in the leg. The shooter was arrested.
"13-year-old boy shot dead" (murder case)
A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed in San Felipe, Alajuelita, just after 2 p.m. on August 14. The victim ran 600 meters to escape the assailant, but was caught up and shot. The victim was reportedly a member of a criminal organization based in the city.
"Crime leader shot dead" (murder case)
At 6:16 pm on August 15th, two men on a motorcycle arrived at a bar in Santa Ana and opened fire on two people inside, shooting and killing them. Three men nearby were also shot, killing one and injuring two. The two men targeted were members of a criminal organization, one of whom was reportedly the leader.
"23-year-old man shot dead" (murder case)
Shortly after 8 p.m. on August 17, two men were shot by two men on a motorcycle on a street in Hatillo, San Jose. A 23-year-old man was killed and another 21-year-old man was injured.
"Drug cartel leader shot dead" (murder case)
At 7 p.m. on August 30th, a man driving a car was shot and killed on a street in Laurca, San Jose. There were 24 bullet holes in the car. The victim was the leader of the La Carpio drug cartel and is believed to have been targeted by a rival group in a turf war.
Limon Department: "500 kilograms of cocaine discovered in a container" (drug case)
On August 4th, 500 kilograms of cocaine was discovered in a container arriving from Colombia at the Port of Moin in Limon. The container contained bananas and was scheduled to be transported to Germany via Toya.
"Robbery at a vehicle inspection center" (Robbery)
In the early hours of August 8th, a group of robbers broke into a vehicle inspection center in Guapiles, Pocosi, held a security guard captive, and fled after stealing cash from the inspection center's office. The amount of damage is unknown.
"40-year-old man shot dead" (murder case)
At 7pm on August 24th, a 40-year-old man was shot and killed at a bar in Siglo 21, Limon. According to witnesses, two men on a motorcycle suddenly shot the victim. The victim's father was a former member of parliament and former Speaker of the National Assembly.
"Nicaraguan man shot dead" (murder)
On August 27, a Nicaraguan man driving a pickup truck was shot and killed by a group of four people in another vehicle in the city of Limon. A four-year-old girl was also in the vehicle but escaped unharmed.
"A 47-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were shot dead" (murder case)
At 2:30 a.m. on August 31, a 47-year-old man, a member of the drug cartel "LaH," active in the city of Limon, was shot and killed at a disco in the city of Limon. The suspect fired his gun indiscriminately, hitting bystanders and injuring five people. One of the five injured, a 37-year-old woman, died shortly after being taken to the hospital.
Puntarenas: "Large amount of marijuana discovered on boat" (drug-related case)
On the afternoon of August 4th, the Coast Guard spotted a boat traveling at high speed in front of Marino Ballena National Park in Osa City, and when they searched the boat, they found 825 packets of marijuana.
"56-year-old woman's body discovered" (murder case)
On August 19, the body of a 56-year-old woman who had been missing for two months was found buried in the garden of her home in Ciudad Neiri, Corredores. The victim's son (17 years old) was arrested.
"20-year-old man shot dead" (murder case)
On the night of August 19th, two men were on a motorbike heading home near the border of Corredores city when they were chased by a group of five men on two motorbikes who opened fire near the house. A 20-year-old man was killed and a 23-year-old man was left in critical condition.
"1,620 kilograms of cocaine discovered" (drug-related case)
On August 22, a suspicious boat was spotted off the coast of Puerto Jimenez, carrying 1,620 kilograms of cocaine, and its Costa Rican and Colombian crew members were arrested.
"1,299 kilograms of cocaine and unregistered guns discovered" (drug-related case)
At 5:00 pm on August 23rd, police officers received a report of a suspicious vehicle in Osa City, and stopped a large tourist van for questioning. 1,299 packets of cocaine, each weighing one kilogram, and two unregistered guns were found inside the vehicle, and the two men inside were arrested.
"Three people killed in drug-related incident" (murder case)
At 10:30 pm on August 25th, the bodies of a 53-year-old man and a 16-year-old woman were found inside a burned-out house in the city of Quepos. Both had gunshot wounds. The body of a 32-year-old man was also found 100 meters from the fire scene. It is believed that they were killed in a drug-related incident.
"30-year-old man shot dead" (murder case)
On the morning of August 29th, in the city of Cote d'Ivoire, a 30-year-old man was subjected to a search of his home by the Judicial Police (OIJ) on suspicion of drug smuggling. He waited for the police to enter his home and fired a gun at them, and was shot by the police who responded and died shortly thereafter.
Alajuela Department: "Skeletal body of 33-year-old woman discovered" (murder case)
On August 6, the skeletal remains of a woman were discovered in the city of Guatuso. Based on the clothing found next to the body, it is believed to be that of a 33-year-old woman who had been missing since July 7. A 41-year-old Nicaraguan man who was with the victim when she was last seen on July 21 was arrested.
"Burglary intrusion into a residence" (robbery)
At 9pm on August 7th, several men broke into a house in the city of Liaquart, locked all the residents in the bathroom, and fled after stealing three cars, jewelry, and other items from the house. Two of the three stolen cars were quickly recovered.
"Died from an accidental gun discharge"
In the early hours of August 14th, a group of minors were playing with a gun in the front yard of a home in Naranjo when it accidentally fired, hitting a 16-year-old boy in the abdomen and killing him.
"Drugs found in car of drunk driver" (drug-related case)
On August 22nd, at a checkpoint in San Carlos, a car ignored a police officer's signal to stop and continued driving, crashing into a police car belonging to the Public Security Police and the City Police. The driver was arrested. The driver was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol, and drugs were also found in the car.
Carthage Prefecture: "25-year-old woman found stabbed to death" (murder case)
On August 10th, the stabbed body of a 25-year-old woman was discovered in a children's park in Orehamno. The victim had been seen with a 24-year-old man, and police were searching for him as a suspect when he visited the judicial police reporting that he had been robbed, and he was arrested on the spot.
Guanacaste Province: 43-year-old woman stabbed to death (murder case)
On August 29th, a 43-year-old woman was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend (49 years old) in El Carmen, Nicoya. A neighbor heard the victim scream and called the police, but the victim was already dead by the time the police arrived. The suspect was arrested shortly after.
Seven members of a criminal organization arrested in Heredia
On August 19th, a 41-year-old man and his wife (29) were arrested in Santa Barbara on suspicion of purchasing and reselling stolen goods, loan sharking, and money laundering. The man is the leader of a criminal organization, and a total of seven people have been arrested. The case came to light after the couple allegedly earned 500 million colones over the past year and a half. In addition, an American man has been sued for fraud (losing $3 million), and they are also reportedly under investigation for drug-related offenses.
[Contact Information]
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E-mail: japon-consulado@sj.mofa.go.jp
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