Authorities discover 359 kilos of cocaine after boat capsizes

A police officer can be seen retrieving several packages of cocaine prior to the discovery of the false bottom(Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Public Security)

October 26^th, 2015 (ICR News) Costa Rican authorities discovered 359 kilos of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a small boat, known locally as a lancha, after an aerial surveillance aircraft spotted the capsized boat and its three occupants at sea on Saturday.

The incident took place near Punta Burica, in Golfito, Puntarenas, where one of the passengers, a Colombian national was taken into custody near the scene where the capsized boat ultimately washed ashore.

Two other Colombian nationals were able to flee the area before authorities on the ground were able to reach the scene, though both were captured in the town of Pavón de Golfito on Sunday.

One of the suspects had previously been apprehended at sea by United States authorities in 2007 while transporting 659 kilos of cocaine.

(Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Public Security)