In 2018, there were 585 homicides in the country, many of them linked to drug trafficking and retaliation. That is just one of the aspects analyzed by the Judicial Investigation Agency, which requires at least 325 more agents to face the level of criminality.
This was stated by Walter Espinoza, director of the entity in an interview with CRHoy.com. The hierarch said that not all have to be agents, because they also require criminal analysts, economic experts, and experts in computer science.
Obviously, if you hire 300 people, you have to hire some secretaries, someone to clean the bathrooms. We are talking about some 275 agents and about 50 support work with more people from SERT because at the moment there are 16 guys who can not cope,”
said Espinoza.
Agents of the Special Tactical Response Service (SERT) have several responsibilities such as raids, custody of dangerous suspects and drug transfers, so at least 10 more people are required in that department.
In Cañas, for example, which sees the neighboring cantons, we have 10 guys to investigate, three for each canton and as they need to rest too, so we are left with two per canton (…) Each time we take out a gangs, we have to make it to the trial, but then I have to provide safety for them in the trial and they are not agents, that’s is another staff. If the gang has 20 members, I have to send 30 agents because if they get aggressive, someone has to contain them and sometimes a trial lasts three months,”
explained Espinoza.
Currently, each agent develops around 12 cases per month, ideally nine, but there are cases that take longer due to their complexities.
Although there is a lack of personnel in several areas of the country, borders are the most urgent, due to smuggling, migrant trafficking, human trafficking, drug trafficking and other crimes. Espinoza emphasized that they are aware that the country’s fiscal situation is difficult and that it is unwise to ask for more vacancies for the Judicial Police, but that the need is obvious.
The director of the entity said they have done their best to get the job done and during 2018 they managed to dismantle several bands and put the suspects behind bars.