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Costa Rican coastguards seize 2.29 tonnes of cocaine

Xinhua, July 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Costa Rica's National Coastguard Service seized 2.29 tonnes of cocaine on Thursday off the coast of the Pacific Ocean, as the drugs were being transported in a fishing boat.

The Ministry of Public Security informed that the vessel was intercepted off the coast of Cabo Blanco, 120 kilometres west of capital city San Jose. Aboard the boat 164 packs loaded with cocaine were found with a total weight of 2,296 kilograms.

The Costa Rican fishing boat named "Costa del Sol Z" was being crewed by three Nicaraguan men and one Costa Rican.

The ministry added that the drug shipment was counted on the dock of the Costa Rican Institute of Fish and Aquaculture (Incopesca) in the city of Puntarenas, 90 kilometers west of San Jose.

The government body explained that the crew were arrested and sent to the State Prosecutor's Office where they will face up to 20 years imprisonment for internationally trafficking drugs.

So far in 2016, Costa Rican authorities have reportedly confiscated over 10 tonnes of cocaine in various raids. Enditem