Costa Rica captures top drug lord "Diablo" after decade on the run

Costa Rican authorities apprehended fugitive drug trafficker Alejandro Arias Monge, known as "Diablo," on July 24, 2026. "Diablo" was the country's most sought-after criminal, with the United States offering a $500,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. He had been evading justice for ten years, with suspicions he was hiding in Nicaragua.

"In a complex police operation, we managed to detain Alejandro Arias Monge, known as El Diablo, as well as two very important subjects in the country's criminal history: alias Tan (Jonathan Pérez Méndez), responsible for numerous homicides, and another known as Coco Guácimo (Roney Ríos Oconitrillo), who was killed," stated Michael Soto, director of the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ).

The operation took place in Sarapiquí, Heredia province. The capture of "Diablo" and "Tan" followed a shootout in which Ríos Oconitrillo died. Five officers were injured, four in stable condition and one in serious condition. Authorities seized five high-caliber war rifles (FAL and AK-47), three pistols, and surveillance drones from the property.

Costa Rican Attorney General Carlo Díaz praised the work of the Judicial Branch, the OIJ, and the Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office. The U.S. State Department had announced the reward in April 2025. Judicial authorities in Costa Rica attribute "Diablo" as the leader of an international group involved in drug trafficking, robbery, contract killings, and money laundering. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also links Arias Monge to conspiracies to transport cocaine from Colombia.

"Diablo" had been a fugitive for a decade after failing to appear for a murder trial and faces numerous charges for drug trafficking and homicide. Authorities believed he was hiding in mountainous border areas with Nicaragua, possibly even on the Nicaraguan side. "Tan," identified as one of the country's main hitmen, is linked to approximately 100 murders attributed to "Diablo's" organization. Coco Guácimo was reportedly responsible for managing the drug network's local operations across Costa Rica.

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In a complex police operation, we managed to detain Alejandro Arias Monge, known as El Diablo, as well as two very important subjects in the country's criminal history: alias Tan (Jonathan Pérez Méndez), responsible for numerous homicides, and another known as Coco Guácimo (Roney Ríos Oconitrillo), who was killed.