The Security and Narcotics Commission of Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly has passed a bill that allows the state to offer financial rewards to citizens who provide information leading to the arrest of members of organized crime and the dismantling of drug trafficking networks.

The initiative, spearheaded by legislator Gilberth Jiménez Siles of the Liberal Party, establishes a reward fund that will be financed by the Costa Rican Institute on Drugs (ICD).

The bill garnered support from members of various political factions, including Gilberto Campos from the Liberal Progressive Party and Horacio Alvarado from the Social Christian Unity Party.

However, it faced opposition from Pilar Cisneros of the Social Democratic Progress Party and independent legislator Gloria Navas.

Under the proposed framework, the fund and disbursement of rewards will be managed by the Public Ministry, which will be overseen by a commission comprised of the Attorney General and the General Director of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).

The specific amount of the rewards is not defined in the legislation; this will be established in a regulation to be approved within five months of the law taking effect.

The proposal includes the stipulation to publish a list of the most wanted organized crime members, detailing their identities and the associated reward amounts.

This information will be disseminated through various channels and platforms of the Public Ministry to encourage citizen participation.

The legislation mandates that the Public Ministry and judicial authorities protect the confidentiality of informants, ensuring that any information that could reveal an informant’s identity remains confidential, even after arrests or judicial proceedings are concluded.

Additionally, informants will be required to provide accurate and useful information and commit to confirming their reports if requested by authorities.

Despite the support for the fund, dissenting legislator Pilar Cisneros expressed concerns regarding financing, arguing that reallocating resources from the ICD could weaken the country's fight against narcotrafficking.

Independent legislator Gloria Navas echoed these sentiments, highlighting the potential risks associated with reward systems, noting that they can lead to misinformation in an effort to claim rewards.

Jiménez responded to these concerns by asserting that the fund does not hinder financing for other anti-drug entities, as it only utilizes a small percentage of resources.

He stated that adjustments could be discussed during the legislative motion presentation phase to address the questions raised by opposing legislators.