The Costa Rican Drug Control Police (PCD) of the Ministry of Public Security broke up a drug trafficking organization that was operating in the provinces of Heredia and San Jose; in total 4 people were detained, among them a woman of last name Barrantes and 43 years of age who has a criminal record for aggravated robbery, sexual abuse, theft, illegal drug commerce, among others, this woman had been previously arrested in May 30, 2013.

Two of the men apprehended are brothers of last name Ortega, one 46 years old and the other age 52, both also have criminal records, the first one for possession of drugs and homicide, the later for possession of illegal weapon, aggravated robbery and assault; this last one had been detained June 24, 2003.

The fourth man, of last name Gutierrez, is 21 years old and does not have a criminal record.

During the operation the PCD agents confiscated 372,200 colones (approximately $656 USD) and 2,073 doses of drugs, marijuana, crack and cocaine.

The investigation began since February 2018 after the Drug Control Police received several reports through their confidential toll-free line 1176.

The operations took place in the communities of San Pedro de Barva, Heredia; Goicoechea in San Jose and Moravia also in San Jose.
One of the houses was used for the storage and distribution of drugs by one of the brothers, while a second one was also used for these purposes and apparently also for the selling of drugs.

According to the Ministry of Security, this year the Drug Control Police has taken down 85 drug operations, among them 17 that were dedicated to international trafficking while 68 were focused on the local market, 27 of these were operated by families.