Financial Crime World

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Costa Rica’s Organized Crime Landscape: A Deep Dive

Resilience, Leadership and Governance

  • Costa Rica is considered a democratic country with no evidence of organized crime penetration into the political system.
  • The new president has made statements against organized crime and is committed to improving police salaries and conditions.
  • Security issues facing the new government include cocaine trafficking, gang violence, and rising corruption.

Criminal Justice and Security

Judiciary and Law Enforcement

  • Costa Rica’s judiciary is independent and free from intervention by other institutions.
  • Prisons are overcrowded due to preventive detention, but the country has a low level of impunity compared to its region.
  • The Public Prosecutor’s Office determines investigations, and the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) handles criminal investigations.

Economic and Financial Environment

  • Costa Rica remains an important money laundering hub despite anti-money laundering laws.
  • Money is laundered through construction, real estate, hotels, and the drug trade.
  • There are concerns about authorities’ capacity to halt drug trafficking syndicates from infiltrating the legal economy.

Civil Society and Social Protection

Prevention Programs

  • The OIJ has a witness protection unit, and the Office for the Attention and Protection of the Victim provides free and confidential protection to crime victims.
  • Three main prevention programs focus on community security, commercial security, and child and adolescent protection.
  • Media ownership is concentrated in a limited number of people, limiting pluralism and diversity.

Conclusion

Overall, Costa Rica faces challenges related to organized crime, including money laundering, corruption, and gang violence. However, the country has a strong legal framework against corruption and a low level of impunity compared to its region.