Former Costa Rican Security Minister Indicted in U.S. Cocaine Trafficking Case

Celso Gamboa Sanchez, a former security minister and judge from Costa Rica, has been indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas on charges of cocaine trafficking conspiracy, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. The 49-year-old was arrested in San Jose in late June by Costa Rica’s judicial police following a U.S. extradition request. His alleged accomplice, Edwin Lopez Vega, was detained in Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean region.

According to the indictment, Gamboa Sanchez allegedly conspired with international drug traffickers to manufacture, distribute, and transport large quantities of cocaine, with much of the product routed through Costa Rica into the United States. Prosecutors say he knowingly assisted in the trafficking operations and played a significant role in the transnational drug network.

The former official held multiple high-ranking positions in the Costa Rican government, serving as Minister of Public Security in 2014 and later as a judge between 2016 and 2018. The role of security minister involves overseeing national efforts to prevent and combat crime, making the charges particularly alarming.

Gamboa Sanchez remains in custody in Costa Rica as extradition proceedings to the United States continue. No official statement has been made by his legal representation.

The case underscores growing concerns about the involvement of political figures in drug trafficking networks across Central America, a region often used as a transit point for cocaine shipments bound for North America. U.S. authorities continue to crack down on international narcotics operations, especially those with links to former officials. The indictment reflects an ongoing commitment to prosecuting individuals involved in illicit drug trafficking, regardless of their political status or past government roles.