Jamaican police reported earlier this month that the leaders of several criminal gangs in Jamaica have left their little island, and relocated to Costa Rica where they are allegedly living quite the high life, while continuing their dangerous criminal activities. The OIJ (Organismo de Investigacion) has been analyzing this situation over the last five years – especially the unusual number of Jamaicans murdered in Costa Rica – and have discovered several Jamaican citizens who left lives of poverty back in Jamaica, and then established themselves as financially successful people in Costa Rica.

“We have investigated persons who in their own country (Jamaica) live marginal lives, very poor, but in Costa Rica they appear to have a sudden change in economic fortune, living lives surrounded by luxury”, commented Alvaro Gonzalez of the OIJ. Some of these individuals appear on the Jamaican Most Wanted List, and are considered to be very dangerous, with long histories of criminal activities. Unfortunately, they bring this criminal activity with them when they relocate.

Jamaican newspaper, The Gleaner, reported that one of Jamaica’s most wanted fugitives, Odane Brown, was assassinated recently in his Tico home by a rain of bullets. Known by his gang name “Squeeze”, Brown’s two colleagues, Luton and Wilmot, quickly escaped to either Haiti or Jamaica after the murder. The OIJ has noticed that murders of Jamaicans in Costa Rica often correspond to murders committed in Jamaica on the same day, a correlation which seems to indicate that Jamaican gangs are well organized, and are fighting their turf wars internationally. Brown was allegedly shot down as punishment for not delivering a valuable drug shipment. These gangs are violent and ruthless. And now operating in Costa Rica.

According to The Economist, “Jamaican posse members are known for gun battles with the police and drive-by shootings in disputes with rival gangs over drug turf. Posse members are known for ritualized murders of members who “rip off” profits on drugs. Posse members have little regard for public safety or human life.”

Often calling themselves “Yardies”, Jamaican patois for home or yard, these relocated gang members are involved in a wide array of criminal activity ranging from political corruption, assassination, drug trafficking and gang violence.
With the increase in drug trafficking activity and violence already present in Costa Rica by both Tico and Colombian gangs, the addition of Jamaican gang members is very alarming. It is encouraging that authorities are aware of the influx of Jamaican criminals, and are trying to monitor and curtail their activities as best they can, given their limited manpower and resources

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