Agents of the Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ) conducted 18 raids the morning Tuesday, September 4, and arrested 19 people suspected of being part of an organization that sold drugs in Batán, Limon.

Many of the suspects are part of a same family and according to the investigations sold drugs in the communities nearby; some of them are also apparently related to homicides in the area.

In the raids the agents were able to confiscate drugs, firearms and cash.

According to preliminary information released by OIJ, the organization has been operating for several years, it started out small, selling crack, marijuana and cocaine in the neighborhoods, but as time went by the operation grew stronger.

Updated 5:24 p.m.

Judiciary Investigative Police, confirmed the arrest of two women and 18 men between the ages of 21 and 57 as suspects of national drug trafficking, the detentions took place in the center of Batán and Barrio Cariari in Limón.

Authorities had already intercepted drugs transported by people related to the organization in four occasions. They are also linked to the murder of a 33-year-old man of last name Bustos who was killed in the area of Barrio Luzón in Matina, Limón.

Agents seized several firearms, drugs, jewels and 7 million colones in cash (approximately $12,000.00 USD).