A group of five people about to make their way across the La Amistad Bridge to the northwestern Guanacaste province's Nicoya Peninsula were arrested for allegedly transporting 462 doses of Ecstasy and 210 grams of marijuana, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.

Five people identified by the last names Araya, Hise, Monestel and two brothers named Del Cid were stopped at one of the checkpoints set up during Semana Santa to combat drug trafficking and other crimes, the statement said. In addition to the drugs, police confiscated ¢155,260 ($299) and $255.

This seizure marks the first one so far this year of Ecstasy, a synthetic drug that is usually found in Costa Rica on its way to Europe. Last year, Drug Control Police confiscated 5,938 doses of this drug.

The ministry is out to fight this type of “narcotourism,” or the trafficking of drugs to tourist destinations by Costa Ricans and foreigners. Citizens who have information about drugs are encouraged to call the 24-hour hotline 176, the statement said.

-Tico Times