The Judicial Investigation Agency, along with the Prosecutor’s Office, carried out a raid in a building in Chinatown. Five people were detained for money laundering. The activity is related to the $1 million seized in August on Paseo Colon. This is a major blow to a money laundering organization.
The building is at the junction between Avenida 8 and Calle 9, 400 meters from the OIJ. $3 million was seized from the three story building as a result of the operation that lasted from 8 in the morning until 5 at night on Tuesday. The money was found in over 82 packages, boxes and bags and is linked to illegal actions including drug trafficking.
The OIJ for some time has been investigating how the money enters Costa Rica, where it is stored and how it is put into the legal financial system.
The arrested remain under the order of the Prosecutor’s Office. The money confiscated will go through the Office of the Prosecutor and then the Costa Rican Drug Institute.