Drug Control Police broke up a criminal ring controlling the crack market in barrio Primero de Mayo de Aserrí and part of San Juan de Dios de Desamparados, both west of San José, for the second time in four years.
This time, they are hoping the courts keep the arrestees in prison.
During the operation on Feb. 1, police arrested Corrales, alias “Pilo,” the alleged leader of the ring, and three others: Saborío, alias “Cejas,” a woman named Chamorro, alias “Cosita,” Rodríguez, alias “Tyson,” and Parra, who is Corrales' wife.
Corrales had already been arrested in September 2003, convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison. But he appealed his conviction, authorities said, and judges granted him his liberty while the appeal was working its way through the system.
Police say Corrales used his freedom to return to the streets and continue controlling his crack empire, this time through the use of surrogates like those arrested during the recent operation.
In a press release, law enforcement authorities made their displeasure with the criminal courts clear.
“Authorities from the Public Security Ministry hope the actions of the antinarcotics agents contribute to returning the neighbors of Primero de Mayo to a peaceful situation and that the detainees won't be freed so quickly as they have on other occasions,” the release states.
Law enforcement officers alleged Corrales controlled the neighborhood with a gang of thugs that terrorized neighborhood opponents.
Police seized 343,000 colones (almost $700), a nine-millimeter pistol, a portable radio, two computers and 60 grams of crack during the raids. |
| 
| 
| Exchange Rates
