Costa Rican security officials are preparing to face a possible arrival of heavy weapons from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), starting next year.
This was explained by the Minister of Security Gustavo Mata, who believes that these weapons have not left Colombia and that the shipment would arrive in the country by 2018.
The authorities’ concern is that heavy weaponry could end up in the hands of local organized crime gangs, which could increase gang violence in the country.
Mata stressed that Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia already have the legal instruments for cooperation against crime by means of “letters of understanding” that prevents the need for bureaucracy to sing and approve an agreement in all three congresses.
It gives us the possibility of information exchange and joint actions, and it’s a start in the new vision of security that this country requires,”
said Mata, who also stressed the importance of seeing the fight against drug trafficking as a block of countries and not as an independent struggle for drugs and weapons.
So far this year, nearly four tons of drugs have been confiscated in Costa Rica.