Director of the Professional Migration Police, Stephen Madden, announced on July 31st the capture and detention of “Mama Africa”, an accused notorious human trafficker, allegedly responsible for smuggling 249 people this year alone through Costa Rica, en route to the USA. She was in possession of 14 passports belonging to citizens of Cameroon, Ghana and other African nations. She was also holding $11,000 in cash, as well as currency from Cuba, Asia and various African nations. It is suspected that the monies were payment for people wanting to be smuggled into the United States, paying between $7,000 – $20,000 per person.

Mama Africa’s real name is Lopez Martinez, and she is a citizen of Nicaragua. She had applied for immigration asylum in Costa Rica, but was denied. Mama Africa reportedly began her human smuggling career after having a love affair with an African who taught her how the human smuggling business works. She quickly rose to a top position in the smuggling ring, bringing two other women along as her captains; they were also apprehended.

Mama Africa’s group were active on two fronts of smuggling circles. One method was through Juan Santamaria Airport in Alajuela, the other over land via Panama. They operated several safe houses for those being smuggled, most in and around San Jose. Panama worked in conjunction with Costa Rica to close down human smuggling rings in both countries. Ten people were arrested in Panama, and 56 in Costa Rica, all accused of human smuggling.
Several guns, ammunition, computers, cocaine and marijuana, bank transfers, and two vehicles were seized in addition to the cash Mama Africa had in her possession.

Commented Emilia Navas, Prosecutor General for illegal human trafficking, “This investigation was highly successful, ending a 12-month investigation into illegal human smuggling through Costa Rica, co-ordinating seamlessly with officials from Panama.”
It is believed that this smuggling ring was one of several operating out of Costa Rica, all feeding illegal immigrants up to the United States, where is continues to be increasingly difficult to enter illegally. The New York Times report that the number of migrants crossing Costa Rica/Panama to reach the United States has grown in recent years, stoking tensions between the Trump administration and Mexico and Central America.

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