All Entries in the "Fuerza Pública – Costa Rica National Police" Category

There’s a WAR Ship In Costa Rica!

Costa Rica was the first country in the world to formally abolish its military. However, this lack of armed forces puts Costa Rica in a paradox while regional drug gangs and cartels lawlessly traffic narcotics.

The Costa Rica government has reached out to the United States military for assistance but in light of extremely vocal opposition says the U.S. is on its shore for humanitarian purposes. What’s really going on?!

CAPTURED! Suspects in Multiple Panama Murders

The American couple suspected of multiple homicides were detained while trying to escape this morning in the waters of the San Juan river on the Costa Rica and Nicaragua border.

William “Wild Bill” Adolfo Cortez Reese and his wife Jane Seana Cortez are suspected of killing several area foreign nationals for ‘assumption’ of their businesses and properties.

7,000 U.S. Marines Landing on the Beaches of Costa Rica

A flotilla of 46 United States Navy warships capable of carrying 200 helicopters, along with 10 Harrier vertical take-off and landing fighter jets, and 7,000 combat ready marines is on its way to this Central American country with no standing army.

On July 1, 2010 the Costa Rica Legislative Assembly voted 31-8 to grant the U.S. military full in-country access through the end of 2010 to help fight drug trafficking.

The Inauguration of Costa Rica’s First Female President

Saturday May 8th, 2010 Laura Chinchilla Miranda was inaugurated into office as the first female president of Costa Rica.

The democratic, peaceful transfer from current President Óscar Arias Sánchez to Laura Chinchilla Miranda took place in a specially constructed viewing area in Parque Metropolitano La Sabana while visiting world dignitaries looked on.

Senior Citizen Travel to Costa Rica

Just Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise.

With tropical rainforests, live volcanoes, long beaches with perfect surf, and each part of the country having its own unique micro-climate … Costa Rica’s beauty is staggering and the sluggish pace seductive.

Senior tourists are visiting Costa Rica in droves to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Costa Rica’s Newest, Largest Marina Boating Facility Opens April 21

Marina Pez Vela, promoted as ‘Costa Rica’s first full service marine facility offering all the necessities for serious boating and amenities for non-serious fun in one of the most spectacular fishing locations in the world’, is opening April 21.

Slips ranging from 35 to 200 feet are located inside a huge new 44 acre breakwater-enclosed harbor, located in the Central Pacific town of Quepos.

President-elect Laura Chinchilla Names Cabinet, Creates Drug Czar

Costa Rica’s President-elect Laura Chinchilla has been busy formalizing her economic, foreign relations, domestic and national security teams.

She also went on the offensive against the growing regional problem of narcotics trafficking by stating drug interdiction will be one of her government’s main priorities as she announced the establishment of a new anti-drug commissioner.

Costa Rica will Re-institute Military to Keep Out Rush Limbaugh

Calling it the “greatest threat our nation has ever faced,” President Óscar Arias Sánchez has announced that Costa Rica will re-institute the military in order to fend of an invasion by American radio entertainer Rush Limbaugh.

Costa Rica has not had an active military since 1948. However, President Arias felt a very real sense of urgency given the latest developments.

A Night at the Del Rey – Costa Rica’s Most inFamous Hotel

It’s not nearly as famous as Amsterdam in this regard, but prostitution is legal in Costa Rica and the country has become quite a big destination for sex tourism – despite the Costa Rica government’s own efforts to discourage its promotion and growth. Michael Paladin is an expat living in Central America who for the [...]

Thriving Sex Industry Bumps Costa Rica from List of Most Ethical Destinations

When travel magazines and sites come out with top ten “eco” lists they’re usually the top ten places who did a good job marketing themselves as green. Okay, maybe that’s too harsh. They are usually places that are actually doing things responsibly because no editor wants to get a stack of hate mail or a [...]

Break Me Off A Piece Of Costa Rica

Nicholas Kristof has a happy-go-lucky column yesterday in the New York Times about Costa Rica that reads as part tourism advertisement, part political common sense. He goes on and on about how the country is consistently ranked high in “happiness” surveys. This is true. How, then, did they get that way? What sets Costa Rica [...]

Comedian Joan Rivers “Held Hostage” in Costa Rica – “Never” Will She Return

U.S. Comedian, QVC jewelry mogul and celebrity red carpet mercenary Joan Rivers, along her semi-celebrity daughter Melissa Rivers, friends and family welcomed in a new decade by celebrating New Year’s 2010 in beautiful Costa Rica. But like all vacations, there comes a time to return home … even for celebrities. However, when Ms. Rivers attempted [...]

Costa Rica 2010 Tourism Forecast

Costa Rica is a premier point of destination for travelers and vacationers.  Despite worldwide declines in tourism due to fragile economies, Costa Rica has held its own due to many factors. Forecast:  Costa Rica tourist numbers to increase in 2010 and grow to 3.5 million arrivals in 2014. After increasing from 2.06 million tourists in [...]

U.S. ATF Rolls-out Newest Firearms Anti-trafficking Tool in Costa Rica

The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) today announced a two-phase rollout of eTrace 4.0, the newest version of ATF’s web-based firearms tracing software, to the governments of Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica. The bilingual firearms tracing software edition commonly called Spanish eTrace, will allow law enforcement agencies in those countries [...]

Costa Rica Police, Crime Fighting and Security are Not Often Considered Synonymous

U.S. ‘expats’ that now reside in Costa Rica try to explain the Tico culture to their families and friends back home as, “Costa Rica is like the United States was 40 years ago”. In other words, many of the social norms and government problems the U.S. went through in the 1960’s are still experienced today [...]

Drugs, Guns… and Eggs?

“She’s got eggs!” shouted the police officer behind mirrored aviators from the bow of the boat. Dressed in dark blue SWAT-style fatigues, the officer held up a wet, woven plastic sack at arm’s length. I was in one of the three water taxis departing Tortuguero, Costa Rica at 11:30 a.m. which were all stopped mid-stream. [...]

Costa Rica Latest Stop for Mexican Drug Gangs

Mexican drug gangs are increasingly using Costa Rica as a pick-up point for South American cocaine headed north and the problem is likely to get worse, President Oscar Arias said on Monday (Dec. 14, 2009). Costa Rican police have seized close to 93 tons of cocaine between 2006 and 2009, nearly twice the amount the [...]

Costa Rica Firearms Review Complete – 26 Foreigners Lose Gun Permits

The Costa Rica security ministry has pulled the permits of 26 foreigners so that they no longer are able to carry firearms. The minister also established additional rules for foreigners who seek these carry permits. No U.S., Canadian or British citizens were among those foreigners who lost their permits. There were 11 Nicaraguans, eight Colombians, [...]

Costa Rica Police and Immigration Crack Down on Jamaica Gangs

Jamaicans living in Costa Rica are facing more visa restrictions today as that country’s government responds to an upsurge in crime, allegedly linked to gangs from the island. With the new regime, Jamaicans living in Costa Rica will be required to submit their cases to the Immigration Administration in downtown San José for special review. [...]

Costa Rica Reviews Gun Permits – Suspends Licenses to Foreign Nationals

Current Costa Rica law allows citizens and legal residents to qualify and obtain licenses to carry concealed firearms. However, as of Wednesday (4 November 2009) Costa Rica President Oscar Arias declared a moratorium on the issuance of any new permits to foreign nationals. The catalyst for this specific action was a shootout between Jamaican drug [...]