Frente Amplio Rep criticizes Costa Rica’s anti-drug strategy as ineffective

Congresswoman Sofía Guillén of Frente Amplio accused the government of President Rodrigo Chaves of being a “narco-government.” “We already live in a narco-state. What we thought would never happen to us has finally happened,” Guillén said.

Her allegations are based on several incidents: the kilos of cocaine transported from Costa Rica to Europe after Operation Soberanía, the irregular purchase of tents for prisons and the relocation of the Coast Guard Academy from Quepos to Pococí.

“We are talking about a narco-government that is, knowingly or unknowingly, facilitating these criminal groups,” she added. The lawmaker cited a recent New York Times article that claimed Costa Rica had overtaken Mexico as the main cocaine transshipment point in Latin America. She also pointed to the government’s reliance on scanners, which she touts as a key tool in the fight against drug trafficking.

“Do you remember that during the Eurobond negotiations we demanded that they install scanners and they resisted? Do you remember how hard we pushed for the scanners? We had them installed, we provided more resources for public safety, and yet 1,240 kilos of cocaine still slip through the borders under their noses. This is not naivety or incompetence. There is clearly favoritism,” Guillén argued.

According to her, the current approach of focusing on small-scale sales is not effective. “Continuing to target the retailer is pointless. Of course, those who commit crimes must be punished, but let’s be realistic: tackling the last link in the chain will not harm the drug cartels. We must tackle the leaders of these cartels by tackling money laundering and illicit wealth. We must hit them where it hurts: their finances,” Guillén said.

She praised the OIJ for their diligent efforts and successful operations, but criticized the government’s security laws. “Our efforts are not enough. With all due respect, much of the security agenda in this Assembly is driven by political posturing and headline-grabbing bills that do not address the real problems. We need laws that directly target the drug lords,” Guillén concluded.