An all-women drug gang was busted for drug trafficking in Golfito, on the Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, near Panama. These alleged drug damas were operating near the Sports Park of Pueblo Civil de Golfito, in Puntarenas Province. They were apprehended by agents of the Drug Patrol Police (Policia Control de Drogas, PCD), on October 5, 2018.

The leader of the group was identified by the last name of Ramirez, a 40-year old with numerous convictions for both drug trafficking and aggravated robbery. The second accused was in charge of storage and drug sales, and is 32 years old, with the last name of Trejos. The third goes by the nickname “Chamito”, real name Arias, and is 49 years old. All three were operating out of their private homes, and dealing both cocaine and crack cocaine.

This bust is another triumph of the PCD’s anonymous and free tip line, accessed by dialing 1176. Police confiscated 36 doses of crack cocaine, 50,000 colones of drug sale money, and a one dollar bill.
Although tourist developments in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica have done much to spur the economic growth of that region, they have done little to decrease poverty and diminish the divide between rich and poor all along the coast. Many of the poor and unemployed are drawn to criminal activities, and cocaine trafficking is flourishing. Over the past three years, the amount of cocaine trafficked through Costa Rica has nearly tripled.

Jose Rodolfo Mora, former prosecutor for organized crime in Puntarenas, now relocated due to death threats from drug cartels said, “There’s been an increase in drug trafficking in Puntarenas, and it’s gone hand in hand with poverty and unemployment.”
Puntarenas is an important transit port for drugs, lying as it does on the route smugglers take from Buenaventura, Colombia, to Mexico. Drug smugglers often use the Puntarenas port to refuel their vessels before the last leg of their journey to Mexico.
With fishing as the main industry of Puntarenas, it seems only natural that the locals would prefer the offer of $100,000, $200,000, or $300,000 to transport a shipment of cocaine hydrochloride (powdered cocaine suitable for snorting or dissolving in water for injection), to make quick and relatively easy money.

The 3 Amigas were just a part of this growing drug traffic trend, but they worked in a way which allowed them to still tend to their children at home, and have dinner on the table by 6PM.