Recent incidents include an assault in Santo Domingo de Heredia where four people were shot and robbed while in their vehicle, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) reported. Another attack in San Diego de La Unión, Cartago, resulted in one death and another injury when two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on a group of people. The motive remains unknown.

Government officials mourned Officer Minor Martínez, killed in a drug gang attack last Sunday in Limón province, an event that shocked the nation. He and five others died in the shootout.

Authorities arrested four suspects on March 18th and seized three rifles, believed to be AKs and AR-15s used in the attack, during an operation. These weapons are frequently used by drug traffickers.

Martínez was part of a Border Police unit and, along with OIJ agents, confronted the attackers. OIJ Director Randall Zúñiga stated that law enforcement responded after the gunmen opened fire from a vehicle.

For months, OIJ officials, law enforcement, legislators, union and grassroots representatives, and public officials have voiced concerns over the country’s growing insecurity, fueled by the use of combat weapons like assault rifles by drug-linked criminals.

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