Two More Fuerza Pública Officers Held in Trafficking Probe
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Four more persons came into law enforcement hands Thursday in the widening investigation of police corruption. Two of those arrested were Fuerza Públicas officers, and one of those was the chief in Santa Cecelia de La Cruz near the Nicaraguan border.
Two other person were held as suspects in the movement of massive amounts of cocaine from Panamá to Nicaragua and the transportation of cash from Nicaragua to Panamá.
The police were identified by the last names of Corea Velásquez and Barrantes Gómez, the last being the chief, according to the security minister, Janina del Vecchio.
The police were detailed to keep narcotraffickers alerted to other police activity and to make sure the way was clear for moving drugs, according to the Judicial investigating Organization.
Ms. del Vecchio said that police corruption has been going
on for years and she is the person ready to clean up the mess.
The police in the northwestern part of the country came into the view of investigators when they found a vehicle near Sixaola last June carrying nearly $400,000 in cash. Documents in the vehicle implicated Corea, said investigators.
Corea also like to live well, despite a police salary of less than $1,000 a month. He had purchased new vehicles, bought a ranch in Nicaragua and had a six-figure dollar bank account.
Other policemen have been detained recently, including 10 who work downtown. One was the regional chief. They were accused to taking money from crooks in exchange for allowing them to commit crimes. Some 50 more are being investigated.
Fuerza Pública officers also are suspects in the robbery of 320 kilos of cocaine form the Golfito prosecutor's office.
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