The Ministry of Public Security in Costa Rica, headed by Michael Soto, has been carrying out mega-operations involving the different police forces in the country with the purpose of increasing security, preventing crimes and seizing drugs and firearms, in total 12 coordinated operations have taken place, in different areas of the country, since the new government took charge, but the total number of homicides for the year is still alarming.

Yesterday, hit men in motorcycles shot the passenger and driver of a a blue Hyundai Accent in Zapote, San Jose, killing the passenger and leaving the driver badly injured, the crime took place in broad daylight and in an area of high traffic.

This type of crime is becoming more and more common in the country, in fact, Luis Angel Avila, sub-director of the Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ), stated that the settling of scores related to organized crime and drug trafficking is responsible for the increase in the number of murders in 2017 and so far in 2018.

Statistics show, this year there have been a total of 302 homicides, 29 more than those registered in the same period last year.

Soto also confirmed that numbers show that this month (through June 27) the average number of murders is less than in the previous months in 2018 and when compared to June 2017, (55 in June 2017 and 42 in June 2018 through the 27).

The number of robberies and thefts have also decreased by over 300 between the months of May and June.

The Ministry of Public Security has reported great success during their operations, confiscating an important number of firearms, drugs, robbed vehicles and motorcycles, apprehension of individuals with arrest warrants and irregular migratory status.

Coordinated police operations will continue throughout the year in hopes that the second semester of the year reflects positive results.