Costa Rica police officer on the run after being busted with 100 kilos of cocaine

Agents of the Drug Control Police (PCD) discovered 100 kilos of cocaine hidden under bed of a pickup driven by a fellow officer of the Fuerza Publica. (MSP photo)

UPDATE / Late breaking: After nearly 48 hours on the run, police officer caught with 100 kilos of cocaine turns himself in

December 14^th, 2015 (ICR News) A Costa Rican police officer remained on the run Monday morning after fellow police officers at a checkpoint in Uvita de Osa on Saturday discovered 100 kilos of cocaine in a pickup driven by the officer.

The 46-year-old officer, identified by the last name Alvarez, was stopped at a police checkpoint in Uvita de Osa while off duty.  As officers at the checkpoint returned to their vehicle to run a check on the registration of the pickup being driven by Alvarez, the man and his brother, who was a passenger in the vehicle, fled on foot into the nearby mountains.

After a pursuit, officers were able to capture Alvarez’s brother, but Alvarez managed to escape.

Upon an inspection of the vehicle, officers of the Drug Control Police (PCD) discovered 100 kilos of cocaine hidden under the bed of the pickup.

Alvarez has been a police officer with the Fuerza Publica in Corredores for 16 years and has no prior criminal history, according to the Ministry of Public Security (MSP).  His brother has a previous arrest for check fraud.

Law enforcement agents are continuing to search for Alvarez with operations in Baru, Perez Zeledon, Uvita and Osa as of Monday morning.