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Cessna Aircraft with Drug Traces Discovered on Clandestine Airstrip in Guanacaste
Uncovering the intricate web of clandestine aviation and drug trafficking in Costa Rica's Guanacaste region.
In an ongoing effort to curb illicit activities, the Air Surveillance Service (Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea, SVA) of Costa Rica made a significant discovery during a routine patrol.
A Cessna aircraft, camouflaged with saran wrap amidst dense vegetation, was found on a clandestine airstrip in Piedras Blancas, within the canton of Nicoya, Guanacaste.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed the aircraft bore a false registration number, raising further suspicions about its use.
The Ministry of Public Security reported that although no drug cargo was retrieved from the craft, 'contamination traces' indicating previous involvement with narcotics were confirmed by the police.
This latest incident underlines the persistent challenge of drug trafficking in the region, which law enforcement has been actively combatting.
In addition to the discovery of the plane, authorities apprehended a suspect identified by the last name Jiménez.
The suspect attempted to flee in a pickup truck but was successfully captured through a coordinated effort between the national police force (Fuerza Pública) and Air Surveillance.
This recent discovery is not an isolated incident.
Similar apprehensions have been made in various parts of Costa Rica in recent months.
In March 2024, police forces discovered two aircraft, including one partially buried, on another clandestine strip in Puerto Jiménez, Puntarenas.
The Vice Minister of Regular Units of the Ministry of Security, Eric Lacayo, had confirmed similar drug traces during that operation.
Further reflecting the endemic issue, in June 2024, officers from the Fuerza Pública found a burnt ultralight aircraft on an illicit runway in Corredores de Puntarenas.
Trained dogs from the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) detected narcotics traces, further corroborating illegal drug activities.
These developments illuminate the ongoing battle against drug trafficking networks in Costa Rica and pose significant challenges for law enforcement.
The use of clandestine airstrips highlights the sophisticated methods traffickers employ to evade capture and transport illicit substances across borders.
As officials continue to uncover such operations, it is evident that a multi-agency approach remains vital to disrupting and dismantling these networks, securing the integrity of national borders.
A Cessna aircraft, camouflaged with saran wrap amidst dense vegetation, was found on a clandestine airstrip in Piedras Blancas, within the canton of Nicoya, Guanacaste.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed the aircraft bore a false registration number, raising further suspicions about its use.
The Ministry of Public Security reported that although no drug cargo was retrieved from the craft, 'contamination traces' indicating previous involvement with narcotics were confirmed by the police.
This latest incident underlines the persistent challenge of drug trafficking in the region, which law enforcement has been actively combatting.
In addition to the discovery of the plane, authorities apprehended a suspect identified by the last name Jiménez.
The suspect attempted to flee in a pickup truck but was successfully captured through a coordinated effort between the national police force (Fuerza Pública) and Air Surveillance.
This recent discovery is not an isolated incident.
Similar apprehensions have been made in various parts of Costa Rica in recent months.
In March 2024, police forces discovered two aircraft, including one partially buried, on another clandestine strip in Puerto Jiménez, Puntarenas.
The Vice Minister of Regular Units of the Ministry of Security, Eric Lacayo, had confirmed similar drug traces during that operation.
Further reflecting the endemic issue, in June 2024, officers from the Fuerza Pública found a burnt ultralight aircraft on an illicit runway in Corredores de Puntarenas.
Trained dogs from the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) detected narcotics traces, further corroborating illegal drug activities.
These developments illuminate the ongoing battle against drug trafficking networks in Costa Rica and pose significant challenges for law enforcement.
The use of clandestine airstrips highlights the sophisticated methods traffickers employ to evade capture and transport illicit substances across borders.
As officials continue to uncover such operations, it is evident that a multi-agency approach remains vital to disrupting and dismantling these networks, securing the integrity of national borders.
