The famous M1, Jose Efrain Lopez Mendoza, Boss Man of the most powerful drug cartel in Costa Rica, Movimiento Revolucionario de Crimen Organizado (MORECO), was captured on Tuesday, August 13, in Escazu. Lopez is on the Most Wanted Lists of both the FBI and DEA, wanted for sending massive shipments of drugs from Costa Rica to the United States. He was wanted by Interpol for his association with the dangerous Mexican cartel Sinaloa, who are notorious for their activities smuggling drugs from Central America to the United States.

Lopez Mendoza was traveling on Tuesday with his bodyguards and a lady friend, when he was apprehended on the outskirts of the Multiplaza in Ezcazu. He is rumored to have been operating drug smuggling activities in Atenas, Grecia, Pococi, Perez Zeledon, Canas, Upala and Abangares. Lopez Mendoza is originally from Guapiles de Pococi.

M1, Lopez Mendoza’s drug handle, graduated from the gang known as Acetileno, an amateur gang who preyed upon automatic cashiers and supermarkets, to become a powerful leader in the narco-trafficking group known as MORECO, who were responsible for large shipments of cocaine from Colombia to Costa Rica, and recently for shipping drugs from Guatemala to the United States, hidden as metal refuse.
MORECO became well known for criminal activities based on three pillars of moral rectitude: Honor, Pride, and Loyalty. They are a predominantly Costa Rican group.

The Star wrote of Lopez Mendoza’s escape from authorities on April 23, 2019.

Walter Espinoza of the OIJ said: “M1 was the leader of a group which had contacts with foreigners in both Mexico and USA. In collaboration with those people, he disappeared in 2015, allegedly hidden by the group “Pastran”, a drug smuggling group headquartered in Belen and Herdia.”
Lopez Mendoza is now being held in Preventive Detention, pending a court trial.

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