In an extensive operation spanning various regions, Costa Rican authorities arrested four individuals linked to a sophisticated fraud ring. This group, comprised of Castro, Solano, Hernández, and Todd, aged between 31 and 63, engaged in illegal activities involving the use of forged documents to facilitate the sale of stolen vehicles across two dealerships in Heredia. Their elaborate scheme involved falsifying vehicle registration and technical review documents to disguise the origins of four vehicles, three of which were confirmed stolen from Heredia, Alajuela, and Batán.
The arrests were the culmination of coordinated raids in multiple locations including Katira de Guatuso, Tamarindo, Guápiles de Pococí, Tirrases de Curridabat, Zapote, Santa Bárbara de Heredia, and an office in Escazú, San José. During these operations, police seized essential evidence such as cell phones, ammunition, cash, laptops, and crucial documents.
This crackdown highlights the ongoing challenges and efforts by the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) to combat organized crime and protect citizens from significant economic losses, which in this case amounted to over ¢63 million. The involvement of a lawyer among the suspects underscores the complexity and depth of the fraud operations, signaling a warning to criminal networks and a promise of continued vigilance by law enforcement agencies.
