United States donates $2.5 million to fight drug trafficking in Costa Rica

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA – August 29th, 2012 – The United States government has donated $2.5 million to Costa Rica through the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI). This money will be used to improve and implement various programs in order to fight “terrorism” and drug trafficking in Costa Rica.

The programs financed by CARSI will contribute to the process of sharing information and case management programs in the government, which the US hopes will lead to more investigations, more efficient judicial processes, and strengthening Costa Rican efforts to fight corruption and organized crime.

“The United States is committed to Costa Rica and other Central American countries in confronting drug trafficking, but in order to obtain good results it is also important that Costa Rica contributes and participates in this type of operation so that we can succeed,” said Anne Andrew, from the United States embassy in Costa Rica.

According to the ambassador, the majority of this money is to improve the responsiveness of judicial institutions.

Among other plans, the donation will benefit the intelligence database for organized crime that belongs to the Judicial Investigation Organization’s (OIJ) management.

“ This is very beneficial for the country’s security, in the OIJ’s case it will be very advantageous to have a system that takes long distance fingerprints, as well as the wiretapping center that will stalk the criminals and organized crime,” said Francisco Segura, director for the Judicial Investigation Organization.

Funds will also be used towards the expansion of the Case Administration computer program, developed for the narcotics prosecutors , as well as a program which will  support the design and implementation of an anti-corruption plan by judicial authorities.

“These donations are important in order to continue the fight against drug trafficking,” added Segura.

The donation from CARSI was given after some members of the parliament did not give permission for an American ship to dock in Costa Rica, which carried important evidence against several drug dealers arrested on the high seas.

The American government has filed another request for their ships to be able to dock in Costa Rica, with the sole purpose of fighting drug trafficking in the Isthmus, according to the American government.  The request will be reviewed by lawmakers next week.