Four Mexicans linked to the robberies of two jewelry stores in Escazú, San José, Costa Rica back on October 31, were arrested this Wednesday, three at the Juan Santamaria International Airport when they were trying to leave the country, and one was arrested in San Jose.

The jewelry stores targeted were Eurochronos in Multiplaza Mall and Tiempo Global in Plaza Colonial Escazu; at the moment of their arrest the suspects had 122 luxury watches with them.

According to information provided by the authorities, the leader, apparently a 33 year old woman of last names Montes Ibarra, along with two other men of last names Ramírez Santacruz (35) and Flores Casas (35) were stopped after 11 a.m. by the airport security, after the scanner detected the large number of watches in their suitcases; each of them was carrying 12 watches of variable price.

The fourth man, Mondragón Mairena (21), was arrested as he was leaving a hotel in San José and was carrying a backpack with 86 watches.

Walter Espinoza, director of the Organism of Judicial Investigation (OIJ), explained in a press conference that this band has their boss in Mexico and also several international contacts, they handle large sums of money and plan their hits with detail; they have come into the country several times usually for short periods.

According to the report of the OIJ the items stolen added up to close to 300 and have an estimated value of US$600,000.00.

Mondragón, the youngest suspect captured today, was staying at a hotel in San Jose, and was holding the loot, he had instructions to hand over to his accomplices a few items at a time to be taken out of the country with Mexico as a final destination.

The band apparently has also operated in Canada and USA with a similar M.O.

Espinoza confirms the surveillance will continue in the different ports and airports since they have reasons to believe this band has at least 28 members and some of them could still be in the country, they have also shared the information with the Police authorities in Mexico, USA and Canada as well as Interpol.