Treasury Sanctions Notorious Costa Rican Narcotraffickers

Targets Face Extradition to the United StatesWASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated four Costa Rican nationals, as well as two Costa Rica-based entities, for their involvement in narcotics trafficking and money laundering. A key global cocaine transshipment hub, Costa Rica has become an increasingly significant waypoint for criminal groups trafficking cocaine into the United States. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), cocaine continues to pose a serious threat to the public, causing over 22,000 overdose deaths in the United States in the 12-month period ending in October 2024.“Drug cartels are poisoning Americans and making our communities more dangerous by trafficking cocaine, often laced with fentanyl, into the United States,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley. “The sanctions being issued today target key drug smugglers involved in transporting drugs into the United States.