The Ministry of Security confirmed the arrest of a man in Quepos who was driving a van with 18 illegal immigrants aboard.

The arrest took place when officers were in the middle of routine controls in the roads of Quepos, Puntarenas, the officers stopped a van that was exceeding its passenger capacity, and requested the documents for all of them, however, only the driver had an identification document.

Six passengers were minors, the rest were adults of Panamanian origin, all of them were transferred to the Migration authorities since none of them had entered the country legally.

The driver, 61 years-old and of last name Chong, was taken into custody to be interrogated and determine whether this is a case of human smuggling or human trafficking.

The Ministry of Security stated through their press release that the police will continue with this control operations in the roads of Quepos and the entire Central Pacific with the purpose of guaranteeing the security of all the residents in the area and the foreigners who visit this popular area.