Crime in Costa Rica

"Nearly 3 million people visited Costa Rica in 2017, and overall they spent $3.87 billion during their stay."{{Cite news|url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2018/08/11/costa-rica-will-ramp-up-police-presence-after-tourist-murders|title=Costa Rica will ramp up police presence after tourist murders|work=The Tico Times Costa Rica|access-date=2018-10-28|language=en-US}} Crime in Costa Rica that impacts tourists is usually in form of petty theft and occasional armed robberies.{{Cite news|url=https://cr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/safety-and-security/the-threat-from-crime/|title=The threat from crime {{!}} U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica|work=U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica|access-date=2018-10-19|language=en-US}} Especially at night tourists need to observe a high degree of precaution. Additionally, murder and sexual assault have also been types of crime that have been committed against tourists. Cases of Arancha Gutiérrez and María Trinidad Mathus, both occurring in August 2018, are the most recent examples of tourists suffering from the rise in criminal activity. These cases of murder and assault, respectively, indicate that crimes are escalating and are becoming quite severe. These cases additionally highlight the lack of punishment that offenders receive.{{Cite news|url=https://qcostarica.com/at-least-16-tourists-died-tragically-while-vacationing-in-costa-rica-in-recent-months/|title=At least 16 tourists died tragically while vacationing in Costa Rica in recent months|date=2018-08-12|work=Q Costa Rica|access-date=2018-10-19|language=en-US}} For example, the two individuals linked to the Mathus case were arrested; however, one was released due to lack of evidence, and the other was sentenced to three months of pretrial detention. Similarly, in case of Arancha Gutiérrez, the man suspected and linked to the assault was released without any charges, and was transferred to the custody of the immigration police for being in the country illegally.

In August 2018, Tourism Minister María Amalia Revelo commented on the adverse impact that these deaths and assaults could have on tourism and the need for more police presence.{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/ct-murders-costa-rica-tourism-20180823-story.html|title=Murders in paradise threaten Costa Rica's main source of income|last=McDonald|first=Michael|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-10-31|language=en-US}} The minister also highlighted the restrictions on her office's ability to respond to crimes due to the Costa Rican government's fiscal policy issues. Security Minister Michael Soto also remarked that the nation's image has already been damaged, which is reflected in the decrease in tourism.

"The nation of about five million people, still regarded as being one of the safest as compared to others in Central America, saw 603 homicides last year, according to preliminary data from the police service responsible for investigating them.".{{Cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/costa-rica-record-murder-rate/4190033.html|title=Costa Rica Murder Rate Hits Record in 2017|agency=Agence France-Presse|work=VOA|access-date=2018-09-06|language=en}}

Previously, 2015 was the year in which homicide rates were the highest.{{Cite news|url=https://news.co.cr/costa-rica-registers-decrease-in-homicides-robberies-and-thefts-from-may-to-august/75759/|title=Costa Rica Registers Decrease in Homicides, Robberies and Thefts Over the Last Four Months - Costa Rica Star News|date=2018-09-05|work=Costa Rica Star News|access-date=2018-10-04|language=en-US}} Currently, the Costa Rican Star reports that there has been a decline in the rate of homicide in areas throughout Costa Rica. Most notably, this decline is in the areas of San Jose and Guanacaste, wherein numbers have reduced by 19% and 62% respectively. As of early 2018, 48% of the homicides accounted for in Costa Rica were linked to drug-related gang violence, with 25% being related to drug trafficking.{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/costa-rica-drug-traffickers-violence-record-levels-2018-1?r=US&IR=T|title=Drug traffickers are pushing deadly violence to record levels in a tranquil corner of Latin America|last=Woody|first=Christopher|date=2018-01-20|work=Business Insider Australia|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en}}

Costa Rica's main problem with drug trafficking relates to its geography and its prime maritime network that facilitates drug trafficking on an international scale. Costa Rica's maritime jurisdiction is more than 11 times the size of its land mass,{{Cite web|url=https://www.unodc.org/toc/en/reports/TOCTACentralAmerica-Caribbean.html|title=UNODC {{!}} Transnational Organized Crime in Central America and the Caribbean: A Threat Assessment|last=carlos.gomezdelcampo|website=www.unodc.org|language=en|access-date=2018-10-04}} rendering it even more difficult to police and monitor trading activity. It has been reported that “Between 2000 and 2015, the country’s murder rate nearly doubled from 6.3 to 11.5 per 100,000 citizens. Up to 70 percent of the violence has been associated with territorial battles between local drug gangs.”.{{Cite news|url=https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/gamechangers-2016-gang-evolution-in-central-america-southern-gateway/|title=GameChangers 2016: Gang Evolution in Central America's Southern Gateway|date=2017-01-09|work=InSight Crime|access-date=2018-10-04|language=en-US}}

Additionally, Michael Porth reported that Costa Rica has had a history of drug trafficking and money laundering since the mid-1980s.{{Cite news|url=https://www.insightcrime.org/investigations/costa-rica-in-the-cross-hairs-part-i/|title=Costa Rica in the Crosshairs (Part I)|date=2011-12-20|work=InSight Crime|access-date=2018-10-24|language=en-US}} This has progressively worsened over the years and has become more reactionary to other international factors such as the United States' increase in border control and anti-drug operations. These operations have caused the drug trafficking organisations to use Costa Rica as their ‘pit-stop’ and preferred laundering area. The geography of the land makes it a prime location for hiding and transporting drugs. For example, the area of Limon that lies along the coast not only holds one of the main seaports but is also the main locale for drug trafficking. Additionally, the areas of the Gulf of Puntarenas and Puerto Quepos, which lie on the Pacific coast, are used as refueling stops for shipments coming from neighboring areas of Colombia and Panama.

This issue has aggravated to the point that the Costa Rican Minister of Public Security, José María Tijerino Pacheco, has stated that without aid and intervention from nations such as the United States, “...the region is going to degenerate into another Mexico.”.{{Cite news|url=https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/us-report-shows-revitalized-central-america-cocaine-corridor/|title=US Report Shows Revitalized Central America Cocaine Corridor|date=2017-03-09|work=InSight Crime|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}} The 2017 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report also highlighted the issue of money laundering occurring through banks. In March and April 2011, it was reported that nine Guatemalans who were linked to Mexican drug trafficking organisations were detained at the Paso Canoas and Peñas Blancas border crossings.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/26/AR2010072605661.html|title=Mexican drug cartels bring violence with them in move to Central America|last=Booth|first=Nick Miroff and William|date=2010-07-27|access-date=2018-10-24|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}} A common issue that has underpinned drug trafficking is the change of influence of the neighboring nations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.insightcrime.org/news/brief/drug-bust-points-to-evolving-criminal-structures-in-costa-rica/|title=Drug Bust Points to Evolving Criminal Structures in Costa Rica|date=2016-11-10|work=InSight Crime|access-date=2018-10-04|language=en-US}} Influence has shifted from more group-orientated drug trafficking from Colombia to relatively prevalent independent and smaller groups as per the influence of the Mexican drug trafficker. Lack of resources and defence has been recognized by the government as the key factor in the inability to prevent and weaken the amount of drug trafficking that is occurring in Costa Rica. The Chamber of Commerce officials in Puntarenas outlined that the drug cartels have come to portray themselves as fishing businesses and use strategies of coercion, either with or without weaponry or by paying other fisherman, to get the illicit substances on land.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world/americas/24drugs.html|title=Drug Wars Push Deeper into Central America|last=Cave|first=Randal C. Archibold and Damien|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en}} Most legitimate businesses, from farms to transport services, have been bought by Mexican cartels in the attempt to hide and transport cocaine.

Further, production of cannabis is also an issue in Costa Rica, particularly in an area called Talamanca. This remote area has also been highlighted as being involved with the trafficking of cocaine.

Discourse around crime rates in Costa Rica progressed throughout the late 1990s in an emotive manner and became more evident through the change in leadership, most notably through presidents Figueres, and Rodríguez. For example, in a speech by Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, he highlights the state of the prisons and the need for development of social policy and security.

"The action against crime has made it necessary to expand the capacity of the prisons.... To restore tranquility and seguridad ciudadana it will be essential to reform legislation, to help the police fight criminals and to avoid impunity... The people demand harsher laws against crime, ladies and gentlemen. I therefore ask you with humility and vehemence to answer those demands by passing these laws without delay"

• General Health Law (Law 5395)
• Aims to prevent and prohibit the cultivation, production and trafficking of drugs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.druglawreform.info/en/country-information/central-america/costa-rica/item/5017-costa-rica#1a|title=Costa Rica - Costa Rica|last=Amira|website=www.druglawreform.info|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-10-04}}
• Narcotics And Psychotropic Substances law (Law 8204) now reformed in 2009 to the “Law on Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances, Unauthorised Drugs, Related Activities, Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism”.
• Outlines the crimes in a detailed manner and includes provisions through which penalties are determined and meted out.
• UNDOC most notably highlights that a key progressive element of the Law 8204 is the reform of Article 77 which accounts for a gender perspective. In this, it does not set a minimum punishment, but rather relies on judicial discretion to set a sentence for women. This reform recognized the prevalence and likelihood of women in poverty having to participate in drug trafficking out of necessity or as an escape from threatening circumstances.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nu.org.bo/noticias/naciones-unidas-en-linea/unodc-comparte-buenas-practicas-y-lecciones-aprendidas-sobre-normativas-de-drogas/|title=UNODC comparte buenas prácticas y lecciones aprendidas sobre normativas de drogas {{!}} Naciones Unidas en Bolivia|website=www.nu.org.bo|language=es-ES|access-date=2018-10-04}}

A recent study conducted by Oya Dursun-Özkanca{{Cite journal|last=Dursun-Özkanca|first=Oya|date=2017-02-22|title=Pitfalls of police reform in Costa Rica: insights into security sector reform in non-military countries|journal=Peacebuilding|language=en|volume=5|issue=3|pages=320–338|doi=10.1080/21647259.2017.1293350|issn=2164-7259}} outlined five key problems with the reforms made to the Security Sector. These include the size of the police force, lack of resources, adequate training, especially for security matters that extended beyond their normal jurisdictions and fragmentation among organisations.

In an interview with the New York Times, it was reported by the coast guards in Puntarenas that they lacked adequate boating equipment to stop and search most of the skiffs that cross the waters. This problem exists across all key ports in Costa Rica, as out of the 26 boats involved in the maritime security, only 14 function (as of 2011)

"Violent crime costs Central America an estimated $6.5 billion a year, equivalent to 7.7 percent of gross domestic product in the region, according to the study carried out in El Salvador...In total, the costs of violence amounted to $2.29 billion in Guatemala, $2.01 billion in El Salvador, $791 million in Costa Rica and $529 million in Nicaragua."{{Cite journal|last=Gutirrez|first=Ral|date=Sep 26, 2008|title=CENTRAL AMERICA: BILLIONS LOST TO VIOLENT CRIME, STUDY FINDS|journal=Political Science|via=ProQuest Central}}

In 2013, in collaboration with UNODC and the World Customs Organization, Costa Rican Government "joined the Container Control Program after signing a memorandum of understanding with UNODC".{{Cite web|url=http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2009/August/costa-rica-signs-up-to-improve-security-in-ports.html|title=Costa Rica signs up to improve security in ports}} The main purpose of this project was to target illegal drug trafficking, smuggling and any main illegal activity taking place at the Port of Caldera (Puerto Caldera).

In July 2013, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) provided training to Costa Rican customs officials with the intention of enhancing the ability of border patrol to recognize illicit substances immediately.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unodc.org/ropan/en/IndexArticles/CCP/taller-costa-rica.html|title=Costa Rica hosts UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme Regional Training|last=UNDOC|website=www.unodc.org|access-date=2018-10-26}} This aided in creating an infrastructure for governments to detect illicit materials and increase responsiveness of certain maritime ports, which was the core aim of the Container Control Program. The Program was originally signed in 2010 and was supposed to be upheld only for three years. Due to the positive results that became evident from the program, an extension of this period was requested. “.... Since its beginning in 2010 through July 2013, this Unit has achieved seizures of 1.6 tons of drugs, 9 containers with counterfeit goods of major brands and 2 containers of tax fraud.”.

Purpose of this partnership is to improve the impact and the consistency of drug policy among nations.{{Cite web|url=http://copolad.eu/en/noticia/america-latina-y-caribe-avanzan-en-la-validacion-de-estandares-de-calidad-y-evidencia-en-reduccion-de-la-demanda-de-drogas|title=Latin America and the Caribbean advance in the validation of quality and evidence standards in Drug Demand Reduction {{!}} COPOLAD|website=copolad.eu|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}} In 2017, the Costa Rican Drug Institute (Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas, ICD) hosted the first meeting of the working group of Latin American countries which was aimed at establishing a criterion on prevention. The meeting was successful in the sense that the attendees incorporated individual drug policies and strategies across multiple nations and were able to become more uniform in their public policy. In 2018, it was announced that the COPLAD organisation has and will be working with other organisations such as WHO, PAHO, EMCDDA and the UNODC, to support new plans to provide improved health services for those who use drugs.{{Cite web|url=http://copolad.eu/en/noticia/onudd-oms-ops-cicad-oea-oedt-y-copolad-celebran-reunion-clave-para-impulsar-mayores-sinergias-en-reduccion-de-la-demanda-de-drog|title=WHO, PAHO, CICAD/OAS, COPOLAD, EMCDDA, UNODC and NIL joining efforts to improve health services for problematic drug users in the CELAC countries |website=copolad.eu|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}} This plan will be implemented in all CELAC states, including Costa Rica.

Previously, the American Drug Enforcement Administration has aided in some of the largest seizures of illicit substances.

As of 2018, the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica, has announced funding to be integrated over the next two years.{{Cite news|url=https://cr.usembassy.gov/embassy/sanjose/apply-u-s-government-funded-grant/nofo-2018/|title=Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to strengthen government through civil society engagement {{!}} U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica|work=U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027061544/https://cr.usembassy.gov/embassy/sanjose/apply-u-s-government-funded-grant/nofo-2018/|archive-date=2018-10-27|url-status=dead}} This funding is aimed towards enhancing and supporting US government objectives, and to this effect, it focuses on the enhancement of security and government organization. An element of this is a part of a preexisting project, namely Central American Security Initiative (CCARSI), which partners with nations within Central America to reduce organised crime.

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