In the largest seizure of suspicious money in the history of Costa Rica, police recently seized about $2.1 million from two Guatemalans at Juan Santamaría International Airport, just outside San José, according to a statement released by the Public Security Ministry Friday.
Two men identified by the last names Cabrera, 29, and León, 47, were arrested Wednesday night accused of carrying $1.1 million and $969,600, respectively, in packets of $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills.
The money was wrapped in carbon paper so as not to be detected by airport security machines and smeared in mustard to prevent police dogs from sniffing it, the statement said.
Costa Rican police were tipped off to the possible trafficking of money here by Salvadoran authorities, who arrested a Guatemalan identified as Bolaños, 24, accused of carrying $319,000 through San Salvador's international airport.
Since Bolaños was scheduled to fly through Costa Rica on his way to Panama, Salvadoran authorities let their Costa Rican counterparts know that more alleged money launderers could be headed here.
After searching several suspects, Drug Control Police at Juan Santamaría arrested Cabrera and León.
The money seized from their luggage combined with that confiscated from Bolaños in El Salvador totals about $2.4 million.
Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal applauded his officers' collaborative work with Salvadoran police and said he believes the money was connected to a drug trafficking operation, the statement said. |
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