How two Americans Caught Smuggling 644 Thousand into Costa Rica Were set Free

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People were gobsmacked when they read that two American citizens caught smuggling over $644 thousand in cash through Juan Santamaria Airport were set free – after only 12 hours. Collin Skees (25) and Benjamin Howze (41) were detained on November 28, upon their arrival at SJO in Alajuela. They had the cash in their carry-on luggage. Drug-sniffing dogs detected cocaine residue on the money, which was wrapped in plastic bundles. The two were detained for questioning by agents of the PCD (Policia de Control de Drogas). Less than 12 hours later, they were flying back to the United States — as free men.

It turns out that the judge who set them free, Ms. Andrea Rojas, is none other than the daughter of former Director of the OIJ (Organismo de Investigacion Judicial), Jorge Rojas. Ms. Rojas ordered the two men freed, overruling the request of the Ministerio Publico, who suspected the men of being involved in a narco-trafficking transaction, and wanted them held in Preventive Detention. This is the usual procedure in suspected narco-trafficking cases.

The United States DEA (Drug enforcement Agency) was called in to consult on the two smugglers, and it was revealed that they were suspected in the US of being connected to a powerful narco-trafficking ring operating in both Mexico and the United States. It remains unclear at what point Judge Rojas became aware of the background records of Skees and Howze. She seems to have ignored the advice of the Deputy Prosecutor of Alajuela, who strongly suspected that the two smugglers had ties to international narco-trafficking rings, and wanted them held for three months to investigate their activities in depth.

Skees and Howze had plane tickets for onward travel to Atlanta, and were scheduled to depart two hours after they were detained. They were released before confirmation of cocaine residuals were received by the court, and before the DEA reported the criminal alert for the two men. This chain of events is highly unusual in a country not known for speedy court proceedings. Commented retired DEA employee Russell Connor, “Someone wanted them outta here in a hurry.” He suggested that it might have been a more serious reason than just the judge wanting to head out on her Christmas vacation.

Judge Rojas has not made herself available to the press, and has not been answering her work cell phone, nor office phone.
Dr. Homer Coto commented, “We’ve arrived now in Costa Rica to a point where corruption is so widespread, that even judges, pillars of the judicial system, are involved in crimes. In any other country Judge Rojas would be behind bars – not on vacation.

About the Author :

Carol Blair Vaughn has written for Inside Costa Rica and The Costa Rica Star, as well as El
Residente magazine. She grew up in Latin America, traveling with her father Jack Vaughn,
former Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs, and US Ambassador to Panama
and Colombia. The Star published her book Crazy Jungle Love: Murder, Madness, Money & Monkeys
in 2017, and it is now available for purchase on Amazon as both a paperback and an
ebook.
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