Police seized 15 firearms and more than 600 grams of marijuana during sweeps in Costa Rica's Caribbean Limón province last weekend.

The sweeps have become a trend in recent weeks – Guanacaste province was targeted last week – as authorities fight back against increasing crime rates and the public perception of insecurity.

According to a press release, police also arrested 16 people in the country illegally. They said 11 were Nicaraguan and the remaining five were from India, Poland and Venezuela. All will be deported.

Most of the confiscated drugs consisted of one 500-gram brick of compressed marijuana.

Seized firearms included a homemade shotgun and a.22-caliber pistol.

As a result of the operation, one casino bar in Cieneguita was shut down because management allowed a minor to drink and was running slot machines without permits.

The sweep focused on Limón, Cieneguita, Moín, Santa Rosa, Bananito, Cahuita, Siquirres and Puerto Viejo.