Acting on information provided by Costa Rica’s intelligence service, the DIS, Costa Rica’s Coast Guard were able to seize 875 kilos of cocaine after intercepting a speedboat some 75 miles off the coast of Quepos, in Costa Rica’s central Pacific, on Wednesday.

 

The intercept occurred after a high-speed chase at sea, which involved Coast Guard craft as well as aircraft from Costa Rica’s Air Surveillance Service in pursuit of the speedboat, which was outfitted with two 200 horsepower engines.

 

The suspects, four Colombian nationals, were eventually detained. Authorities were able to recover 875 kilos of cocaine, despite the fact that the suspects were seen from the air throwing several bales overboard. Coast Guard officials were eventually able to retrieve the packages thrown overboard, according to reports.

 

It is believed that the suspects or a drug trafficking group may have attempted to divert the attention of Coast Guard officials as the speedboat passed through the area by falsely reporting an emergency at sea, according to reports.

 

As the speedboat passed through the area, Coast Guard officials received a call advising them that a boat with 14 tourists onboard had sank in the vicinity of Cano Island.

 

The Coast Guard responded to the emergency, but an extensive search of the area revealed that the call was a hoax.