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Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, December 23, 2004
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| HOLIDAY Delight: Patricia, a child from León XIII, an impoverished urbanization north of San José , rejoiced as she unwrapped the doll she received during the “Angel Tree” party yesterday. The Salvation Army of Costa Rica organizes the annual celebration, which is sponsored by The Tico Times, to bring presents donated by “angels” to children from poor families. |
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Authorities Arrest Alleged
International Drug Dealers
A six-month investigation culminated yesterday when anti-drug police from the Ministry of Public Security arrested alleged members of an international drug trafficking organization that used Costa Rica as a bridge to send cocaine to the United States and Canada, the ministry said in a statement.
(Click for more)
Ombudsman Lists New Year's Goals,
Announces New Prison Phone Service
Ombudsman José Manuel Echandi yesterday publicly called on the government to pay more attention to social problems and on the Public Health Ministry to enforce safety standards for public swimming pools as school vacations and the tourism high season get under way.
(Click for more)
Journalist's Murder
Remains Unresolved
Today is the one-year anniversary of the murder of Costa Rican journalist Ivannia Mora, a crime that remains unresolved in spite of the fact that five suspects are serving preventive detention orders.
(Click for more)
December 23
Jazzy Christmas Concert
Jazz Garbo and Gabriela Zamora will perform with several musicians to benefit the children of the Bribri community of Pavas, in west San José , who are homeless because of a fire that destroyed their homes last week. The concert begins at 9:30 p.m. at the Jazz Café. Info: 293-1158, 365-8522
Holistic Holiday Vacation
This 10-night “All-inclusive Mind, Body and Spirit Christmas/New Year 2005 Vacation” begins today and lasts until Jan. 2 at Tranquility Hill in Palmares, Alajuela. Info: 453-3761.
Edited By María Gabriela Díaz
Tico Times Staff
mgdiaz@ticotimes.net
Authorities Arrest Alleged
International Drug Dealers
By María Gabriela Díaz
Tico Times Staff
mgdiaz@ticotimes.net
A six-month investigation culminated yesterday when anti-drug police from the Ministry of Public Security arrested alleged members of an international drug trafficking organization that used Costa Rica as a bridge to send cocaine to the United States and Canada, the ministry said in a statement.
In July, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) informed Costa Rican authorities about the confiscation of 11 kilograms of cocaine in Memphis, Tennessee, which they said were sent from the northwestern Costa Rican province of Guanacaste.
Tico authorities determined the shipment was made by an organization they suspect was led by a naturalized Canadian citizen of Iraqi origin and two Costa Ricans.
Public Security Minister Rogelio Ramos said these suspects were arrested yesterday morning.
Jousif Dlaymi, 43, who authorities say has a record of drug trafficking and auto theft in Canada , was arrested at 6 a.m. yesterday in a luxurious residence in La Garita, in the province of Alajuela . He is suspected of sending suitcases, boxes and books filled with cocaine to Memphis and Toronto, Canada , according to the ministry's statement.
Officials from the Drug Control Police (PCD) said they confiscated $3,000 in cash, several guns, a rifle and a luxury vehicle from the suspect. Authorities suspect the car was used to transport cocaine that was later sent abroad.
The two Costa Ricans allegedly worked with Dlaymi, who has lived in Costa Rica for four years, as his assistants. One of them, identified by police as Gómez, was allegedly in charge of scouting for drug shipments and had been linked to several drug trafficking rings. His arrest, however, had been impossible until yesterday, when there was enough evidence to accuse him of international drug trafficking and illicit associations.
The third man arrested, identified by police as Jiménez, was allegedly in charge of packing the drugs in books, wooden sculptures and boxes for shipment.
Ombudsman Lists New Year's Goals,
Announces New Prison Phone Service
By Robert Goodier
Tico Times Staff
rgoodier@ticotimes.net
Ombudsman José Manuel Echandi yesterday publicly called on the government to pay more attention to social problems and on the Public Health Ministry to enforce safety standards for public swimming pools as school vacations and the tourism high season get under way.
He also said his office has convinced the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), which operates the country's state-run telecommunications system, to establish international phone service for prisoners.
Echandi issued a list of New Year's resolutions he says the government should adopt, including: divert more funds to improve the quality of education, invest more in housing, improve national security, fight corruption, create more employment options and take urgent action to reduce the number of people living in poverty.
“The government should concern itself not only with the approval of the new tax plan or the Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) through the Legislative Assembly, but also with funding the social programs the law has stipulated,” Echandi said in a statement. “The answer is always that there's no cash, but there is a big evasion. If the government is going to wait for the (Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court) Sala IV to obligate it to enact social programs, we will lose a great opportunity to develop the country.”
After a parent of two girls who drowned in a pool in a sports complex filed a formal complaint, Echandi has called on the Public Health Ministry to enforce safety standards at the nation's public pools.
Finally, he announced that an ICE international collect call service, 116, will be available to prisoners beginning next year. The service would be especially useful to foreign prisoners who do not have family in Costa Rica , he said.
Journalist's Murder
Remains Unresolved
Today is the one-year anniversary of the murder of Costa Rican journalist Ivannia Mora, a crime that remains unresolved in spite of the fact that five suspects are serving preventive detention orders.
Suspects in the case include Uruguayan business executive Eugenio Millot, Mora's boss at the magazine where she worked as a business reporter; Eduard Serna, Nelson López and John Nixon Nievas, all Colombians; and Fredy Alexander Cortés, from Nicaragua.
On Monday, a judge extended the preventive detention order for the suspects until March 22, 2005.
Mora, 33, was killed on the evening of Dec. 23, 2003 while driving on a busy street in eastern San José , accompanied by a colleague.
Two people shot Mora several times from a motorcycle, causing serious wounds and her eventual death after she was transferred to a hospital (TT, Jan. 3).
Although investigations into the death have advanced this year, the Prosecutor's Office has still not presented formal accusations against the five suspects, which prevents the case from going to court.
--EFE
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