Fisherman executed off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast; drug traffickers or pirates suspected

May 25^th, 2015 (InsideCostaRica.com) A 62-year-old fisherman was shot in the head and his body dumped at sea while fishing offshore near the area of Cabuya, Puntarenas after being intercepted by attackers in another vessel, according to the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ).

The man, identified as Emiliano Carbonera Chamorro, was accompanied by his 18-year-old crewmate, identified as Roberto Zamora Wilson.  The attackers also attempted to gun down Zamora, but a bullet fired by the attackers only grazed the man’s head causing a superficial wound, according to the man’s account of events.  Zamora, who also suffered an injury to his left hand, jumped into the sea to escape the attackers and was later rescued by a private vessel near Cabo Blancos, Puntarenas, while floating at sea.

Zamora told police that the attackers demanded the men to “hand over the package they found at sea,” but that the pair had not discovered any such package.

Carbonera’s body had not been recovered as of Monday morning.  Authorities, including the Costa Rican Coast Guard, are continuing to search for the man’s body, as well as the attackers.

Authorities believe the attackers stole Carbonera’s boat, which was later discovered on the beach in Malpaís de Cóbano.  Authorities found only fish, fishing gear and water and fuel containers onboard the boat.

Locals told reporters that Carbonera and Zamora were both known as artisanal fisherman in the area.

While Friday’s murder at sea is believed to have been drug-related, authorities are not ruling out the possibility of pirates, who have attacked sea goers in the area recently, including two separate incidents on April 1^st.  In one of the incidents, masked men stormed the boat of two fishermen while at sea near Isla Chira, Puntarenas.  The assailants tied the men up and stole their vessel’s engine.  That same day, attackers made off with an engine and fishing gear in another seaborne attack against an area fisherman.