The crackdown on drug-related offenses in Costa Rica intensified in Guanacaste from January to August of 2014. According to official statistics published by the Ministry of Public Security (Spanish initials: MSP), 233 foreigners have been arrested thus far this year for violations of the Law on Controlled Substances. The majority of those arrested are Nicaraguan and Colombian immigrants, followed by tourists and expats from the United States and Canada.

 

Although Guanacaste has a high concentration of foreigners throughout the year, the percentage of those arrested for narcotics violations is not significant when compared to the totality of detentions, which this year have been in excess of 4,600 in the province. Most Canadian and U.S. tourists and expats arrested were picked up along Gold Coast beaches; whereas Nicaraguan immigrants are more likely to be arrested in rural areas and low-income neighborhoods.

 

MSP press release CP-1304-2014 also indicated that a handful of foreigners from Argentina, Brazil, France, and Italy have also been booked in Guanacaste on charges related to dealing in controlled substances. The drug amounts confiscated from U.S. expats are as follows:

 

• 87 grams of cocaine hydrochloride in powder form packaged for transport
• 18 single-serving doses packaged for retail sales
• 5 hits of crack
• 37 marijuana cigarettes

 

It is important to note that the press release does not indicate whether those detained were prosecuted. Under the laws of Costa Rica, drug use is not a crime but rather a public health matter that requires prevention and treatment if it leads to addiction. Under this doctrine, for example, police officers cannot simply arrest someone smoking marijuana in public, although they can confiscate or destroy that personal amount on the spot. The same goes for other drugs: amounts that indicate personal use do not lead to arrests; larger amounts, however, may be signal an intent of distribution, smuggling, delivery, or dealing.