Costa Rica Arrests 21 in Human Trafficking Case with U.S. Help
- Costa Rica conducted a police operation resulting in 21 arrests linked to human trafficking.
- The network was operating between Ecuador and the United States.
- The suspects are believed to have ties to an international human trafficking ring.
In a significant crackdown on human trafficking, Costa Rican authorities arrested 21 individuals on Tuesday, suspected of being part of an international network facilitating the illegal movement of migrants from Ecuador to the United States. The operation, which involved 18 coordinated raids across the country, was conducted in collaboration with U.S. and Panamanian law enforcement agencies. The arrests come amid rising concerns over the increasing number of migrants traversing Central America in search of a better life in the U.S. Although there has been a recent decline in migrant crossings, tens of thousands still navigate the perilous Darien Gap jungle between Panama and Colombia each month. The majority of those apprehended were Ecuadorian nationals, with some hailing from Africa and Asia. According to police reports, the trafficking network operated by housing migrants in various locations, including homes and hotels, while arranging their transfer to the northern border with Nicaragua. Costa Rica’s Security Minister, Mario Zamora, described the operation as a "complex human trafficking scheme" and emphasized its significance as part of a broader international effort to combat this issue. In response to the growing migration crisis, Panama and the U.S. agreed in July to enhance measures against irregular migration through the Darien Gap, including U.S. financial support for deportations. Costa Rica is also exploring a similar agreement with the U.S. to address the challenges posed by illegal crossings.