Costa Rica, Colombia, U.S. Seize Record 8 Tonnes of Cocaine in Joint Operation
A record eight tons of cocaine have been seized from a Costa Rica-registered boat in a joint operation by Costa Rican, Colombian and U.S. coastguards, the government announced on Tuesday.

Costa Rica's Ministro de Seguridad Pública, Fernando Berrocal, said the countries had launched the anti-drug operation on Sunday, netting both the cocaine and the crew of the boat, which was made up of four Costa Ricans, a Panamanian, a Colombian and a Mexican.

Berrocal said that for security reasons the name and registration number of the ship could not be revealed.

The seven detainees and the drug will be transported to a Costa Rican port in the Pacific, from where it will be sent to the United States for incineration.

"Eight tonnes of this drug is an amazing amount. We think that this should be judged by Costa Rica courts, but we are negotiating for the drug to be sent to the United States because of the risk represented by having it on Costa Rican soil," the minister said.

Police said the drug had been on its way to the United States via Guatemala.

The seizure is considered the most important in the history of anti-drug operations in Central America and one of the largest in the Latin American region. So far this year, 12.2 tonnes of cocaine have been seized on Costa Rican boats and 14 people have been arrested.