At the Criminal Court of the Treasury on Friday, a judge ordered the immediate suspension of an immigration officer who was detained on suspicion of having accepted bribes in exchange for immigration stamps. The officer, who was only identified by his last name of Valerio, was assigned to the immigration office in Sixaola near the border with Panama.

According to an article by journalist David Delgado from La Nacion, Valerio was caught with seven passports that he attempted to hide in his uniform. Six were American passports, one was Canadian. Valerio has been working as an immigration officer for three years, and it is presumed that he intended to stamp the passports and falsify entry and exit records on the Migratory Movement Electronic Records System (Spanish acronym: SIMMEL).

Members of the internal investigation unit tasked with tailing Valerio were alerted of the scheme when two American citizens complained that Valerio asked them for money. Given the circumstances of the case, it can be speculated that Valerio was providing services to foreigners who either overstayed their visas, did not feel like executing a visa run, or who did not feel like paying the $100 per month penalty for overstaying their lawful permanence in Costa Rica.

Go-Betweens and Passport Parties

This is the third time this year that La Nacion covers matters concerning rogue immigration agents.

On February 25^th, David Delgado wrote about officer Granados and his go-between Calderon, who were charged with accepting bribes up to $300 to allow travelers with exit restrictions to cross over the border to Panama. Such restrictions in Costa Rica are typically imposed on parents who are delinquent on child support, or individuals who have been ordered by a judge to remain in the country while a court case or investigation unfolds.

In the above-mentioned case, the go-between was approached by a snitch who paid with marked bills. Once the money was in Granados’ hand, officers moved in and arrested him. Both Calderon and Granados are now under travel restrictions themselves.

There’s also the case of immigration officer Monge Granados, as reported by Hulda Miranda of La Nacion. Back in January, Monge was detained by an internal investigations unit who tracked him since December. He has been charged with computer fraud for allegedly manipulating SIMMEL and recording fake entry and exit records for foreigners. Until the day of his arrest, Monge was assigned to the Juan Santamaria International Airport.

“Passport Parties” are some of the most curious trends in illicit immigration. In a three-part televised segment, Teletica reported on these gatherings that take place near Paso Canoas, our main southern border crossing. A passport party involves a group of immigration officers who meet individuals with travel restrictions, and who wish to leave the country -for a price.