Costa Rica arrests most wanted drug trafficker ‘El Diablo’
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Outcome reported
- Costa Rican police arrested the country's most wanted drug trafficker, Alejandro Arias Monge, known as “El Diablo”.
- The operation resulted in one death and eight injuries, with authorities targeting a meeting of criminal organization leaders.
- The United States had offered a $500,000 reward for Arias Monge's arrest, who had been sought for about 10 years.
Costa Rican authorities have apprehended Alejandro Arias Monge, the nation's most-wanted drug trafficker, in a significant operation that left one person dead and eight injured. Monge, widely known as “El Diablo,” was taken into custody Friday morning in Rio Frio, Heredia province.
The Attorney General, Carlos Diaz, revealed that law enforcement targeted a gathering of criminal organization leaders on a rural property. During the operation, another leader, Roney Rios, was killed. The intense confrontation involved approximately 2,500 bullets fired, resulting in eight police officers sustaining injuries.
El Diablo had been sought by authorities for about 10 years, and authorities suspect he was hiding out in neighboring Nicaragua for part of that time.
The United States had placed a $500,000 bounty on Monge's head, highlighting his status as a high-priority target. He had been evading authorities for approximately a decade, with suspicions that he may have been hiding in neighboring Nicaragua for a portion of that time.
This arrest comes as Costa Rica, once considered Central America's safest country, has seen a surge in drug trafficking in recent years. The US embassy in San Juan commended the Costa Rican government for its successful operation.
congratulating the Costa Rican government on the successful operation.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Vanguard. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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