Costa Rican authorities have arrested the country’s most wanted suspected drug trafficker, Alejandro Arias Monge, widely known as “El Diablo,” following a large scale security operation that turned deadly and left several police officers injured.
The arrest was carried out on Friday morning in Rio Frio, located in the northeastern province of Heredia. According to Costa Rica’s Attorney General, Carlos Diaz, the operation successfully ended a decade long manhunt for the alleged crime boss.
The United States had previously announced a reward of 500,000 dollars for information leading to Arias Monge’s capture, underscoring the international efforts to bring him to justice.
Diaz explained that security forces launched the operation after receiving intelligence about a gathering involving leaders of criminal groups at a rural property. During the raid, another suspected gang leader, Roney Rios, was killed.
The operation was marked by an intense exchange of gunfire, with authorities estimating that nearly 2,500 rounds were fired. Eight police officers sustained injuries during the confrontation.
Following the arrest, the United States Embassy in San Juan commended the Costa Rican government for what it described as a successful law enforcement operation against organized crime.
Officials said Arias Monge had remained on the run for nearly ten years. Investigators believe he spent part of that period hiding in neighboring Nicaragua while evading arrest.
Costa Rica has experienced a sharp rise in drug trafficking and organized crime in recent years, a significant shift for a country that was once widely regarded as one of the safest nations in Central America. Authorities continue to strengthen efforts to dismantle criminal networks and restore public security.
