Costa Rica’s judicial police arrested Celso Gamboa, a former security minister and Supreme Court judge, on Monday after a U.S. extradition request for drug trafficking charges.
This arrest is a significant development in Costa Rica’s ongoing effort to combat organized crime and enforce new extradition laws.
Gamboa was detained in San Jose, signaling the country’s commitment to addressing international criminal activity.
The arrest follows a recent constitutional reform passed in May that permits the extradition of Costa Rican citizens for drug trafficking and terrorism, a first in the nation’s history.
Randall Zuniga, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), described the capture of Gamboa as a “milestone,” as he is only the second person to face extradition under the updated law.
Alongside Gamboa, authorities also arrested Edwin Lopez Vega, known as “Pecho de Rata,” in the southern Caribbean region, who is wanted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on similar drug trafficking charges.
Both arrests underscore increased cooperation between Costa Rican and U.S. law enforcement agencies targeting international drug networks.