US Ambassador in Costa Rica Thought Costa Rica’s Most Effective Police Station Was A Bus Stop!

The one police station in Costa Rica which has been the most successful in the fight against drug trafficking and smuggling is housed a rustic hut with no walls and a roof made out of corrugated metal sheet mounted on wooden posts.

About a month ago, during a tour of the southern zone of Costa Rica, the United States ambassador Anne Andrew mistakenly thought the police station was a bus stop which is certainly understandable when you look at the photograph above.

The US diplomat was surprised to hear that the makeshift hut at kilometer 37 in Rio Claro de Golfito, is one of the strongholds in Costa Rica border control.

This is true even though the police officers (four or five per shift) have no toilet (the nearest toilet is 500 meters away), no water and very little space for detainees. Neither is there any decent furniture, just a desk, some rustic benches and thankfully a payphone.

The work there is intense. Every week there’s a new challenge.

On June 9, agents seized 10 kilos of cocaine in the rear bumper of a vehicle and on May 22, another man was caught in the same spot with 60 kilos of cocaine in the double lining of the doors of his vehicle.

This location is strategic as many different routes all converge allowing the police to better control vehicles on the road loaded with drugs and illegal immigrants.

The Director General of Fuerza Pública police force, Allan Obando said that: “It is no secret that much of the drugs that enter through Paso Canoas (on the Panama border) must travel the InterAmericana highway.”

Our thanks to Our friends at The Nation – Costa Rica’s largest circulation Spanish newspaper – for permission to summarize their article and to use their photos

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.