The Deputy Prosecutor’s Office of Limón confirmed that it will request six months in prison against Gilberth Bell Fernández, alias Macho Coca, and 14 other individuals linked with an organization that extracted fuel from the pipeline of the Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery (RECOPE).
Bell, a well-known fishing entrepreneur in Limón, was arrested on Tuesday for apparently providing the financing and logistical support for the gang to steal fuel from the pipeline between Limón and Turrialba.
The fuel stolen by the criminal organization was acquired by individuals linked with different activities such as fishing, operation of heavy machinery, and transportation.That is the hypothesis handled by the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) after arresting the suspects, together with the Deputy Prosecutor’s Office of Limón.
Bell would have contributed money to buy vehicles, provided lots to build storage centers, and with his resources they would have purchased expensive hoses – valued at up to ¢2 million – to extract the product. In return, he received part of the loot.
Apparently, the gang subtracted gasoline, diesel, and fuel Jet type A-1 (used in aircraft). However, the investigation has not been able to determine if the product was transferred to third parties linked to criminal activities (such as illegal drug trafficking or fishing).
The economic damage between November 2016 and the current date is estimated in around ¢ 2 billion (more than $4 million), according to data provided by RECOPE to the OIJ.
The alleged leaders were two acquaintances of Macho Coca: a man named Villalobos Bustos (he received the stolen fuel and resold it) and another man named Delgado Sandí (who performed similar functions).
In order to achieve the objective, the group installed a series of illegal takes to steal the fuel with high pressure hoses. Thus they stole a large quantity of product, which was then moved in tanks to several farms (some of them owned by Bell) where it was stored in tanks with a capacity of up to 1,000 liters.