A surprise operation seeking bogus drivers licenses netted 95 drivers with falsified documents and landed two Traffic Safety Council (COSEVI) officials in jail. Four other low level COSEVI officials also were arrested.

Judicial detectives from the OIJ police agency have been working on the case for weeks and agency officials do not discount further arrests. One of the first drivers caught with a false license was a court official.

The court official, whose full name was not released to the press, was accused of falsifying his own license. It appears however that the licenses were issued by an organization specializing in false medical examinations and other such deceptions.

Subdirector of OIJ, Allan Rodriguez, told La Nacion that the arrests were made to try to stop issuance of false licenses. It apparently is a growing problem that fits the definition of organized crime.

The Wednesday dragnet operation was conducted throughout Costa Rica. OIJ agents also raided the offices in which the occupants are accused of issuing fake medical permits needed before applying for a license. The alleged permit mill is located only about 200 meters east of the main COSEVI office.

It is unclear with what offense drivers with false licenses will be charged. The final figure of arrests was 103. Some drivers paid 300,000 colones for their bogus permits, reported La Nacion.