In 2017 Costa Rica closed the year with 602 homicides, 24 more than in 2016; unfortunately,2018 is not up to a good start since in just 9 days there’s been 17 homicides.

When we compare the data from last year for the first 9 days of the year, there had been 15 murders. Michael Soto, Chief of the Plans and Operations Office of the Judicial Investigative Organism, stated that their goal this year is to bring the number of homicides back to less than 600 at the end of the year; however, being realistic and considering the information from previous years there could actually be an increase of between 3-5% in the homicide rate.

The first double homicide of the year was registered yesterday in the area of Paso Canoas near the Panama boarder when a couple, Mario González Vega 74 years old and Gregoria Gonzalez Valdez 71 years old were found dead in their home with multiple wounds to their head that could have been caused by a hammer or another heavy object.

With 602 homicides last year, Costa Rica averaged 12 homicides per every 100 thousand inhabitants, making it the third year in which the country surpasses the rate of 10 homicides per every 100 thousand inhabitants which is considered an epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

48% of the homicides that took place last year were related to confrontation between drug dealing gangs to settle scores and take control over specific territories.

The majority of the murders took place in the province of San Jose, and more specifically in communities such as Pavas, Desamparados, Guadalupe, Alajuelita, among others. Limon and Alajuela take second and third place respectively in the number of homicides registered.