Costa Rica captures most wanted fugitive also sought by US, authorities say
Authorities said the arrest ended a nearly decade-long search and followed a raid that left five tactical officers wounded and one suspect dead.
- On Friday, Costa Rican authorities detained Alejandro Arias Monge, the fugitive known as "Diablo," in Sarapiquí, ending a nearly decade-long manhunt that drew a $500,000 reward from the United States government.
- Since walking out of prison on October 28, 2016, Arias Monge had been a fugitive; authorities attribute as many as 100 killings to him, though these allegations remain untested at trial.
- Agents from the Judicial Police encountered gunfire while raiding a farm in San Bernardino, Heredia, shortly after 5 a.m., resulting in five wounded tactical officers and seizure of high-caliber rifles, including AK-47s.
- During the operation, authorities detained senior figures Jonathan Pérez Méndez, known as "Tan," and Jorge David Núñez Aguilar, alias "Coco Pastilla," while a fourth suspect, Rios Oconitrillo, alias "Coco Guácimo," died during the exchange.
- Michael Soto, the OIJ's interim director general, argued that the government's proposed ₡3.053 billion reduction to the Judicial Branch's 2026 budget would constrain operational capacity following the high-stakes capture.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Al Arabiya
Costa Rica arrests most wanted drug trafficker 'El Diablo'
One of the most wanted drug traffickers in Costa Rica was captured after a law enforcement operation. Alejandro Arias Monge, known as "El Diablo", along with two other criminal leaders were on the list of the most wanted people in the country.
On Friday, Costa Rican police arrested the most wanted drug dealer in the country, Alejandro Arias Monge (alias "El Diablo"), in a soldier operation with one dead and eight wounded, the authorities, quoted by AFP, announced.
The search for El Diablo has been going on for about ten years.
On Friday, Costa Rican police arrested the most wanted drug dealer in the country, Alejandro Arias Monge (alias "El Diablo"), in a soldier operation with one dead and eight wounded, the authorities, quoted by AFP, announced.
Costa Rica's police arrested the country's most wanted drug dealer, Alejandro Arias Monge (alias "El Diablo"), on Friday (local time), during an operation that killed one person and injured eight people, announced the authorities. ...
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