Panama documented 16 cases of Asians, mainly Chinese, who were smuggled from Costa Rica. The foreigners were taken to Panamanian territory through the border post of Paso Canoas, in the South Zone. This was confirmed by the National Police of Panama, after reporting on the arrest of 10 people linked to a ‘mega network’ operating in both countries.
On Tuesday, Panamanian and Costa Rican authorities deployed the operation ‘Cielo y Tierra’ (heaven and earth), to dismantle an organization for the illicit movement of Asian migrants. Apparently, once in Central America, foreigners were exposed to labor exploitation.
In Costa Rica, there were 29 people arrested, of which 11 are part of the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration (DGME). Apparently, the officials collaborated to facilitate the entry of foreigners into the country. In their benefit, for the criminal contribution, they received between two and four million in cash.
Before arriving in Costa Rica and Panama, foreigners arrived on the continent -via air- through countries such as Peru, Ecuador, or Colombia, and then they moved to other countries by land.
The group charged each victim $25,000 and $40,000 (between 12 and 20 million colones) for getting them to Costa Rica. According to the investigation in Costa Rican territory, conducted for two years, the coyotes earned more than $2.4 million dollars for the transfer of 110 people who were exploited, including three minors.
The victims are Asian. It is a simultaneous and coordinated operation with Costa Rica. Here we managed to apprehend almost all the targets. We have recovered victims, cash and firearms without permits,”
said David Mendoza, prosecutor against organized crime in Panama.
This Tuesday, they managed to rescue six alleged victims who were distributed in different parts of the Panamanian capital. In Costa Rica, the group had as its headquarters in a seafood restaurant located in Sabana Norte, San José. Apparently, three Asian citizens controlled the organization from Costa Rica with contacts in Asia, Europe, and South America, and two destinations in Costa Rica or the United States-Canada.
When the network established the destination, there was a parallel structure in Costa Rica that placed the victims in suppliers and restaurants where they were exploited. According to Security Minister, Michael Soto Rojas, the victims acquired an “eternal” debt that they paid with labor for many years.