Security Minister says Costa Rica has time to save itself from organized-crime onslaught.
| Autor | Rodriguez, George |
Set in Central America, a region where organized crime--particularly drug trafficking with its related illegal activities--has become a powerful, destructive actor, Costa Rica is still on time to save itself from the scourge. However, as much as it differs from other countries in the area, it must quickly update its quite successful approach, because things are starting to get out of control.
As he thus assessed the situation for NotiCen, Costa Rican Security Minister Gustavo Mata said that the authorities involved in the struggle must replace individual, disparate actions and embark upon a major, united effort. Mata said this is the core of a proposal he is promoting, which implies creating a security structure specialized in countering organized crime. He said strengthened support from the US is also essential for Costa Rica, a country making a major anti-drug effort with limited resources.
Meanwhile, members of the congressional Comision de Seguridad y Narcotrafico told NotiCen they fully back the minister's initiative.
Two-pronged fight: persecution and prevention
Explaining the proposal, the minister said it rests on two main pillars: persecution and prevention.
The planned structure--whose suggested name is Unidad de Articulacion entre el Poder Judicial y Cuerpos de Policia contra la Delincuencia Organizada--would revamp the security sector, according to information released by the Ministerio de Seguridad Publica. The unit would be made up of magistrates and judges, as well as members of the Ministerio Publico plus the Ministerios de Seguridad Publica and Justicia y Paz, as well other institutions involved in the country's security.
Another foreseen component is the creation of a Centro de Informacion Permanente del Delito, the ministry pointed out in a communique issued Aug. 11.
The initiative includes, among other aims, an information platform to be shared by all police bodies, as well as defining a crime policy and creating jurisdiction specialized in organized crime, including drug trafficking, added the ministry.
"What I want is for all to sit down and talk, and say 'We have to analyze this,' because the country is getting out of our hands," Mata said, referring, among other issues, to an increasing trend in drug-related homicides this year.
Costa Rica's advantages of low violence and high drug confiscation
Nevertheless, the minister is certain that the crime scenario in this Central American nation allows for the situation to be...
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