American Expatriate Costa Rica

Police divers battle narcotics underwater

The new police dive team belongs to the National Guard. So far, they have done internships at the Academy with which that entity has, in Quepos. | WANDA ARAYA.


In March 2006, a ship arrived in Limon with 50 kilos of marijuana stored in a metal box attached to the hull. Since the incident the Ministry of Public Security has seen the importance of divers and underwater inspections.

Currently, there are eight police divers belonging to Coast Guard headquarters in Puntarenas, Limon and Quepos. Officials hope to have 20 divers in 2015 who work in all Coast Guard sites in the country. Martín Arias, director of the National Guard, said some of the officers had already had diving courses, and that police from the United States have provided training. Courses teach diving up to 100 meters and also deal with water rescue and dealing with explosives.

Source La Nacion