With 39 votes in favor, the Legislature approved in the first reading an important legal reform to criminalize terrorism financing and to fight money laundering.
These amendments reform the Law on narcotics, psychotropic substances, unauthorized drugs, related activities, money laundering and terrorism financing, preventing Costa Rica from falling into the black list of countries that do not cooperate with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in the fight against terrorism.
The Costa Rican Drug Institute (ICD) said that the risk of being included in the list is real because the initiative had to be approved before July, 15th.
The reforms were requested by the FATF. Costa Rica must now present a report on the actions it has taken to fight terrorism and money laundering on August, 1st in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The implementation of the reform was possible after a political agreement was reached and after the Libertarian Movement withdrew motions that had raised on the project.
The initiative’s second reading will be on Thursday, if the institution whose opinions were asked give their answers.