Costa Rica Dismantles Major Human Trafficking Ring Moving Migrants To The U.S.

 

Costa Rican authorities announced the arrest of 19 individuals suspected of trafficking hundreds of mostly Asian migrants en route to the United States. The arrests followed a series of coordinated raids across multiple cities, targeting what officials describe as a transnational criminal organization involved in both human trafficking and money laundering.

The raids took place in Corredores and Los Chiles—key locations allegedly used to house and move migrants of various nationalities, with a focus on Chinese and Vietnamese nationals. According to the Costa Rica Prosecutor’s Office, the group concealed migrants in hotels across the country and operated a complex network that facilitated illegal transit through land, air, and sea routes.

During the raids, authorities seized high-caliber weapons and large sums of cash. Officials say that at least 437 migrants were smuggled into Costa Rica. While the majority were from China, others came from Vietnam, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru.

The traffickers reportedly charged migrants between $7,000 and $40,000, depending on their country of origin. Once smuggled into Costa Rica, the individuals were moved north toward the Nicaraguan border, from where they would continue their journey to the United States.

“This was a highly organized criminal operation,” said Deputy Attorney General Mauricio Boraschi during a press conference. “Migrants were illegally transported through Costa Rica and then funneled toward the U.S. border.”

Authorities shared footage of the raids on social media, showing heavily armed officers using battering rams and bolt cutters to enter buildings. At least one suspect was visibly detained in the video.

Commissioner Enrique Arguedas of the Costa Rican Immigration Police stated that the investigation began over a year ago in cooperation with Panamanian law enforcement. He emphasized that the criminal networks operated across national borders, recruiting and transporting migrants from Panama through Costa Rica and onward to North America.

The Costa Rican Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the detainees would likely face court proceedings shortly and that ongoing searches could lead to further developments.