BREAKING Gender Barriers: This photo of mechanic Cindy Cerdas is part of an exhibit inaugurated yesterday at Calderón Guardia Museum in Barrio Escalante, San José, called “ Abriendo camino (el género no define al oficio )” “Paving the way (gender does not define occupation).” The photos, taken by Gabriela Soto, depict women working as firefighters, taxi and bus drivers and police officers to show that men aren't the only ones capable of doing these jobs. Inaugurated in honor of International Women's Day Thursday, the exhibit runs through March 31, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; for more information, call 222-6392.

Tourists in the Caribbean port of Limón have additional police watching over them as they disembark from their cruise ships now that increased security measures announced by Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal in the wake of a recent violent incident are in effect, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.

Newcomers Monthly Meeting
With guest speaker Dr. Maida Farnell Wimberly discussing “What you do or don't want to know about dengue and parasites in Costa Rica,” 9:30 a.m., Cuidad Colón, northwest of San Jose. Info: 416-6165, newcomerscr@yahoo.com.

Free Piano Concert
Gerardo Duarte performing works by Brahms, Schumann and Schubert, 7 p.m., University of Costa Rica (UCR) School of Music, room 107, San Pedro, east of San José.

By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff | aroberson@ticotimes.net

A Cuban American identified as Gianni Vazquez, accused of running an $11 million medical equipment scam in the United States, was arrested yesterday in the Central Valley town of Atenas, according to a statement from International Police (INTERPOL).

Vazquez faces charges of money laundering and fraud associated with two medical equipment companies he ran in the U.S. state of Florida from 2003-2004. Through these companies, he allegedly used the identities of third parties to charge U.S. Medicare for medical equipment, according to an INTERPOL spokesman in San José.

Vazquez's company then received a total of $11 million in checks from Medicare, which he allegedly cashed at check-cashing businesses, according to the statement.

National Police worked with INTERPOL to locate and arrest Vazquez in Atenas. Although he was carrying a 38-caliber gun at the time of his arrest, he did not put up any resistance, the statement said.

Immigration records show Vazquez first entered Costa Rica in 2004, before there were charges against him. Here, he allegedly used other people's identities to buy cell phones, cars, real estate and a construction company. He has lived in the San José suburbs of San Pedro, Sabanilla and Escazú, as well as in Atenas.

A San José court is processing Vazquez's deportation to the United States, the statement said.

A boat carrying more 1.6 metric tons of cocaine was confiscated and two people were arrested yesterday near the peninsula Santa Elena, in the northwestern Guanacaste province, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.

Police had been searching for the boat since Sunday, when they received a call that it was near the town of Flamingo. They flew over the area and spotted the boat, but upon recognizing the police helicopter, the two men aboard it headed toward Santa Elena. There, they abandoned the boat and fled into the mountains, but were again located by a police helicopter and were arrested by officers on the ground yesterday morning, the statement said.

The boat confiscated is grey, measuring about 11.5 meters long by 2.5 meters wide, with three 200-horsepower Yamaha motors. Inside it, police found 1,643 packets of cocaine, each weighing about one kilogram.

Those arrested were identified by the last names Tello, 32, and Portocarrero, 26, both from Colombia.

-Tico Times

Tourists in the Caribbean port of Limón have additional police watching over them as they disembark from their cruise ships now that increased security measures announced by Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal in the wake of a recent violent incident are in effect, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.

A spotlight was shone on tourist security Feb. 21 when three assailants, one carrying a handgun, approached 12 tourists in the Limón neighborhood of Cieneguita. One of the tourists, in Limón during a stop on his Carnival cruise, killed one of the assailants, while the other assailants fled the scene (TT, March 2).

Following the incident, Berrocal and Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides announced plans for an expanded police force in Limón, which is now in effect, the statement said.

Limón has 16 Tourism Police officers, and every time a cruise ship arrives it gains an additional 14 officers, Vice-Minister of Public Security Rafael Gutiérrez told the daily Al Día.

The arrival of “thousands of tourists has kept Tourism Police and National Police patrolling Limón on foot, motorcycles and bikes,” said Limón Police chief Luis Hernández, according to the statement. Additionally, a police helicopter is circling overhead.

According to the statement, both residents and Limón artisans who sell their wares at the port are benefiting from this stepped-up security.

However, a couple of cruise ship tourists interviewed recently by Al Día said that although they were enjoying Limón, they didn't see many police.

“I like this place and the beaches, but I don't see any police officers. This could be a problem for all of us,” said José Soyusa, from Portugal.