The Ministry of Public Security confiscated today 256 kilograms of cocaine found inside the wall of a container truck that was attempting to exit the country through the Nicaraguan border.

The truck had Guatemalan license plates and entered Costa Rica back in July 21st from Nicaragua, it was supposed to leave the country this Friday, August 3rd with Guatemala as its final destination; the truck was transporting metal rubbish and other waste and was stopped at the Peñas Blancas border.

During a routine operation the Drug Control Police inspected the truck to find a built double wall compartment where 128 packets were hidden. The Drug Control Police confirmed a total of 256 kilograms of cocaine.

To answer the question made by one of our readers, the drug seized in Costa Rica is incinerated in a process overseen by the Costa Rican Drug Institute (ICD), institution that has to pay $1000 per ton of cocaine or marijuana to a local cement company that must have special ovens that reach a temperature of up to 2000 degrees Celsius (3632 degrees Fahrenheit) to guarantee the destruction of the drugs. During the destruction of the drug the presence of a judge is required

Costa Rica’s geographic position makes it an ideal bridge for the transportation of drugs from South America to North America, the country is part of what is known as the Central American corridor, area through which a very large quantity of drugs is moved.
Michael Soto, Minister of Security, has affirmed in past interviews that in the nations where the cocaine is produced a kilogram can cost close to $600.00; however by the rime it reaches Costa Rica it can have a value of around $6000.00 and in the United States the same kilogram can cost as much as $35,000.00.
The 256 kilograms seized today represents a loss of as much as $8.9 million.

The driver of the truck, a man of last name Gomez, 38 years-old and of Guatemalan nationality was arrested and remains in custody.