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Staffer at Costa Rica’s secretive intelligence agency charged with providing sensitive info to narco group linked to homicide

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October 21st, 2015 (ICR News) A staffer at Costa Rica’s secretive Directorate of Intelligence and National Security (DIS) was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of providing “sensitive information” to a narco-trafficking group linked to a May, 2014 killing in order to assist the group in evading capture for the crime.

 

The 38-year-old staffer, identified by the surname Odio, was arrested by officers of the Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) in Granadilla de Curridabat as he left his home on his way to work.

 

Four other suspects were taken into custody as part of the investigation in Nicoya, Limon, and Naranjo, including a 56-year-old Colombian national who surrendered himself to the OIJ in San Jose.

 

The investigation centers around the assassination of Julián Adolfo Ramírez Smith, 44, who was gunned down by assailants on a motorcycle as he left a Cartago restaurant on May 16, 2014.

 

An investigation conducted by the Public Ministry and the OIJ determined that Ramirez, as well as the suspects taken into custody on Tuesday, were part of a drug trafficking organization.

 

Ramirez owned and operated a company that specialized in the repair and refurbishing of shipping containers.

 

Wiretaps revealed that the suspects arrested on Tuesday had hired the hit men to kill Ramirez.

 

The suspects are also believed to be linked to at least one other homicide.

 

costa rica news

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  • Ben

    So the DIS is corupt as everyone says in Costa Rica. Narco´s have the control in North America and Central America. Goverments do not have a clue how to change anything to help the honest people.

    • zzzzz

      well , you could say that someone did get DISsed though

  • richard schlinder

    Ben. This is good news.Someone came in to investigate and it led to arrests,hopefully ,convictions.Last week OIJ came in with Italian polizia and closed down two farms that were exporting drugs for years.It’s not like nothing is getting done.

    • http://insidecostarica.com/ Timothy Williams

      I have to agree, Richard. Arresting a DIS staffer is a huge deal in Costa Rica – many Ticos themselves aren’t even aware of DIS’s existence, let alone foreigners – and actually is a positive sign that the government wants to do something about corruption. This should actually be seen as positive news. DIS is now trying to “play down” this staffer’s position in DIS, of course (sort of NSA-style downplaying of Edward Snowden) – but once again I have to agree this is a POSITIVE sign from the administration (we could use more).

      The DIS as existed almost “above the law” for quite a while, and this is positive news, in my personal opinion.

      Disclaimer: The views expressed in my personal comments are not necessarily those of ICR News or its staff.

      • richard schlinder

        Thanks Tim.I am glad to see you use your name on this board as I do. We need to speak the truth as we believe it to be.

        • zzzzz

          I bow my head in shame….

          • richard schlinder

            That’ Okay Z.It’s hard to forget your handle.

      • Ben

        DIS is the Presidents CIA if thing get out of control send in the Jackels.

    • Ben

      The system is corupt in Costa Rica. Every once and a while the Costa Rican goverment hands up one person to show they are doing something. DIS and OIJ are slow to do anything to help honest people that pay taxes.

      • richard schlinder

        Isn’t it interesting that a drug investigation started in the U.S. (New Jersey) than to the Italian polizia and than to Costa Rica. It’s like COIL was pulled into the investigation and had help from outside to complete the bust.
        I find it more interesting that only three days later the issue of the C-130 from the states for drug surveillance becomes challenged for use and now a big meeting of South American investigator from the U.S. are meeting with President Solis on reaffirming drug surveillance procedures.
        We all know the CIA buys and sells drugs and guns for profit and influence.Is this where this meeting is leading too?

        • SDPUS

          The real threat is more likely posed by former Intelligence workers, who after their career in government, often go to work in the private arena. They are potentially the most dangerous and nefarious as they then work under different parameters.

          • richard schlinder

            You make a good point.

          • zzzzz

            Yeah, you said a mouthful. We have seen what the contractors have done in Iraq and elsewhere. Rogue guys with tentacles in crime, police and who knows.
            At least CR is fairly small and the paramilitary/ spy/ undercover community also fairly small and i actually have some faith the secret service is checking it out

        • Ben

          100% correct

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