For many years, residents, business owners and tourists in the Manuel Antonio community of Quepos have complained about an increase in street-level crimes. From drug dealing to pick pocketing and from vehicle theft to illegal sidewalk sales, street crime has grown on the beach and extended into the pristine Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica’s most visited natural attractions. Various law enforcement agencies analyzed the situation and decided to assign more foot patrols to the area, but not before putting together a multiagency task force to perform a weekend sweep.

 

According to a recent press release issued by the Ministry of Public Security (Spanish initials: MSP), five police units were deployed this last weekend to Manuel Antonio: Fuerza Pública (Costa Rica’s national police force), the Tourism Police, a K-9 squad, Transit Police, and the National Coast Guard Service. Detectives from the Judicial Investigations Office (Spanish initials: OIJ) as well as inspectors from the Ministry of Public Health and from the Municipality of Aguirre joined the sweep effort.

 

A total of 15 shops that did not meet public health standards or that were otherwise non-compliant with municipal codes were shuttered down; some were even destroyed. During this part of the operation, two women became feisty and assaulted police officers and inspectors; they were arrested and compelled to appear before Flagrancy Court in Puntarenas, where they plead guilty and agreed to pay a fine and to perform community service hours. Two immigrants who appeared to be in the country illegally were detained as well as a reckless driver.

 

Small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and crack were confiscated and destroyed on the spot in accordance to procedures set forth by the laws governing controlled substances in Costa Rica.

 

Xinia Vasquez, Director of Tourism Police, explained that this initial joint task force sweep was a prelude to increase foot patrols in Manuel Antonio. She did not discard the possibility of similar operations in the near future; not just on this beach but in other tourism areas as well. The president of the Chamber of Tourism in Manuel Antonio, Quepos and the canton of Aguirre highlighted the importance of such operations and of having a visible police presence in the area. He thinks that the MSP and Fuerza Publica have handled the situation in an effective manner since the previous lack of coordination by law enforcement agencies attracted an unpleasant criminal element to this premier tourist attraction in Costa Rica.