The Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ) confirmed today the arrest of a 24-year-old of Asian origin but nationalized Ecuadorian who is in Costa Rica as a tourist and is suspected of money-laundering.

“The investigation began several weeks ago, when the authorities detected several foreigners entering the country through the Juan Santamaria Airport with large sums of cash; we were able to determine that this money was being collected and stored by the man now under custody in a luxury apartment in Paseo Colon”, details the OIJ press release.

“Following the investigation process a raid was conducted last Friday in the apartment located in a Paseo Colon building, the suspect was detained and during the search we were able to confiscate a luxury vehicle which was bought in cash for $65,000.00 (per documentation found), and a total of $468,760.00 USD and ₵232,478.00 colones in cash as well as other evidence such as computers, cell phones, a money counting machine and USB memories”.

The suspect of last name Weng, is currently serving three months of preventive prison. Costa Rican authorities already alerted the China and Ecuador Embassies of the case.

According to information by the Ministry of Public Security, so far this year, the Drug Control Police has seized $961,783.00 in cash (not including the case above), in the different organized crime related operations.