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400 kilos of cocaine found in abandoned truck on Costa Rican highway
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Energy & Infrastructure

400 kilos of cocaine found in abandoned truck on Costa Rican highway

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Costa Rican authorities discovered 400 kilograms of cocaine hidden in an abandoned truck on a highway in Guanacaste province.
  • The discovery was made following an alert from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of joint intelligence efforts.
  • The seizure highlights the ongoing challenge of drug trafficking in Costa Rica, which has seen record cocaine seizures in recent years.

Authorities in Costa Rica have seized approximately 400 kilograms of cocaine found concealed within an abandoned truck on a roadside in the northwestern province of Guanacaste. The significant drug bust occurred on Friday, June 19, 2026, following a tip-off from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), underscoring the continued international cooperation in combating drug trafficking.

The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) reported that the truck was found parked unattended in the Limonal area. After relocating the vehicle to an OIJ facility, investigators discovered a hidden double floor containing 400 one-kilogram packages of cocaine. No suspects have been apprehended in connection with the seizure thus far.

The finding occurred thanks to an alert provided by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), within the framework of joint work and bilateral information exchanges.

— OIJ StatementThis statement details the source of the intelligence that led to the drug discovery.

This operation comes amid a persistent struggle with drug trafficking in Costa Rica, a problem that has fueled a rise in violence and made it the country's primary security concern. Official data indicates that in 2025, authorities confiscated a record 46.5 tons of cocaine, second only to the 47.1 tons seized in 2020. By March 2026, an additional 13.8 tons had been seized, reflecting the scale of the challenge.

The operation was carried out in the Limonal locality, Guanacaste province, about 200 kilometers northwest of the capital San José, after the DEA received confidential information about a drug shipment that was going to be transported through the area.

— Vladimir MuñozThe OIJ deputy director provided details about the location and the confidential information received.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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