Costa Rica's Cocaine Kingpin Faces U.S. Extradition Request

Global Operations

Posted by AI on 2025-11-07 03:16:40 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-11 04:44:29

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In a significant development in the war on drugs, the U.S. government has set its sights on a Costa Rican man, Gilberth Bell Fernandez, believed to be a key player in the Central American cocaine trade. The 62-year-old, known as 'Macho Coca', is wanted in New York to face charges of leading an international drug trafficking operation. This extradition request shines a spotlight on Costa Rica's role in global drug trafficking, particularly in the bustling port city of Limon.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has filed the necessary papers to bring Bell to justice across the border. Costa Rican authorities have confirmed their cooperation, with the Attorney General's Office stating that the Public Ministry, Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are working closely together. Bell is currently detained in Costa Rica for his alleged involvement in a fuel theft ring, but his drug-related activities have caught the attention of international law enforcement.

Bell's alleged criminal empire is extensive. According to court documents, he directly negotiated with undercover DEA agents, selling cocaine samples and planning to ship a substantial 700 kilograms of the drug to New York. His operations are believed to have spanned from March 2022 to August 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has already sanctioned Bell, freezing his U.S. assets and isolating him from the international banking system.

As the case moves through Costa Rica's courts, the world watches to see if Bell will face justice in New York. The outcome will significantly impact the fight against drug trafficking and may strengthen international cooperation in combating this global issue.

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