Tamarindo, a Place for Easy Drugs and Prostitution
A report in today's edition of the Spanish language daily, Al Día, says that Playa Tamarindo is the beauty of the beach is not the only reason attracting the great number of tourists - foreigners - but, a well organized "mafia" that provides drugs and prostitution.

A murder last December, the disappearance of a young Australian and the capture in March of two major drug dealers, has the population of this coastal beach town frightened, which for the most part is now made up of foreigners.

Erick Carvajal, a reporter for the newspaper says in his report that most of the drugs in the area, prostitution and crimes committed in the area have a the seal of approval from the San José barrio of León XIII.

In addition to nationals, Colombians and Nicaraguans have now joined the drug trade which is in the open on any night.

An official of the local detachment of the Fuerza Publica says that most of the crimes committed against tourists in Tamarindo are not committed by locals but anti-socials from other parts of Guanacaste and San José. Sabino Reyes said that the arrest of the two major drug dealers lowered the sale of drugs in the area, but "the business" continues.

In Tamarindo, most of the drug sellers are also users. According to police, at least 30 drug addicts are on the streets constantly selling drugs and since they don't have a place to live, the house themselves in a place known locally as "Chechenia", about a kilometre from centre town.

Police say that the sale of drugs affects all businesses and tourists who come to Tamarindo from all over the world. The problem has been going on for at least 12 years, but it has grown tremendously in the last five.

Griet Depypere, president of the Asociación Pro Mejoras de Tamarindo, admits that there is a serious problem. Development in the town has grown at alarming rates in the last several years and security was left behind. Tamarindo now counts with a private police that patrols the town centre and calls on the Fuerza Publica when the needs arises.

"Tamarindo is now known internationally as a place for easy drugs and prostitution. Definitely we don't want this type of tourism", Depypere told Al Día.

The Ministerio de Seguridad Pública (Ministry of Public Security) which oversees the Fuerza Publica has undertaken a study of the area and a report is expected in the coming months.

Local merchants complain that in the past the drug deals were made in the alleys and out of plain sight. Now, both the sellers and buyers, as well as the users, are buying, selling and using in the open and in daylight, losing the fear of reprisal from the law.

The increase in tourism brought to this small beach town lots of "dollars" and "euros" and along with it came the drugs, officials say.