Surf, Luxury, and a Tragic End: The Dual Life of a Costa Rican Narco

In the vibrant, yet tumultuous tapestry of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, the story of Leonardo Antonio Joseph Méndez, better known as Chombo, unfolds like a modern-day noir, blending the allure of luxury and the perilous waves of the underworld. Chombo’s life, marked by opulent properties and a passion for surfing and boogie boarding, presents a stark juxtaposition to the shadowy realms of drug trafficking in which he was allegedly entangled.

Luxury Amidst the Waves

Chombo’s tale took a dramatic turn in July 2023, when, following a series of raids on his lavish estates in Liverpool and Moín, he surrendered to authorities. Despite the cloud of suspicion hovering over him for leading narcotic ventures and being a person of interest to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Chombo managed a semblance of freedom, albeit under a judicial measure requiring regular court appearances.

This semblance of liberty was secured through a property bond—a modest farm registered under his mother’s name, valued at a mere ¢4.000 despite its sprawling 338 square meters. Yet, this was but a glimpse into Chombo’s portfolio, which boasted an Alfa Romeo boat purportedly for fishing, two vans each worth ¢4.6 million, and three motorcycles. A 2023 raid on his Moín residence unveiled additional vessels and a dredge valued at an astounding ¢120 million.

Chombo’s name was not unknown in the aquatic sports scene, having graced water sports publications as a fervent wave chaser across the Caribbean beaches. His fishing endeavors were also documented, with a commercial fishing license reinstated in February 2017 for his vessel, Pikiri.

Narcotic Shadows

Chombo’s darker affiliations trace back to around 2017, linking him to a Colombian criminal organization. Court documents from 2019 denied an extradition appeal for Mario Juan Pereira Ramos, revealing Chombo’s alleged role in coordinating significant cocaine shipments from Colombia along Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, destined for further transit through Nicaragua and Honduras. These operations purportedly utilized fishing boats and speedboats for drug transport and distribution within Costa Rica.

A Violent Demise in Limón

Chombo’s narrative reached a grim conclusion in front of the Limón Courts, where gunfire from assailants wielding AK-47s ended his journey abruptly. Emerging from a 4×4 with an associate, the barrage of bullets, primarily targeting Chombo’s head, underscored a violent reckoning, possibly rooted in drug-related vendettas.

Among his wealth, a notable asset was a farm in Río Blanco de Limón, valued at ¢1 million over 2,838 square meters. A mansion in Moín, not registered under his name but adorned with luxury, including a painting of Pablo Escobar, hinted at the depths of Chombo’s narcotic connections.

Chombo’s life story is a paradoxical blend of surf’s up highs and the lowest ebbs of the criminal underworld—a narrative punctuated by a violent end that underscores the volatile intersection of luxury and legality on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. As investigations continue, the legacy of Leonardo Antonio Joseph Méndez, Chombo, remains a cautionary tale of the surf, luxury, and tragedy.