The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned four Costa Rican nationals and two entities based in Costa Rica for their roles in narcotics trafficking and money laundering. Costa Rica has become a significant route for cocaine shipments heading to the United States, with criminal groups increasingly using the country as a transit point. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that cocaine continues to pose a major threat, contributing to over 22,000 overdose deaths in the United States during the 12 months ending October 2024.
“Drug cartels are poisoning Americans and making our communities more dangerous by trafficking cocaine, often laced with fentanyl, into the United States,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley. “The sanctions being issued today target key drug smugglers involved in transporting drugs into the United States. Treasury, in close coordination with U.S. law enforcement and our Costa Rican partners, will continue to use all available tools to disrupt narcotrafficking organizations that threaten the safety of Americans.”
This action follows a coordinated investigation involving the DEA San José Country Office, DEA Dallas Field Office, and Costa Rica’s Office of the Attorney General.
Violence in Costa Rica has increased as criminal organizations compete for control over drug trafficking routes. Official data indicates that 2024 was among the most violent years on record for Costa Rica, with trends suggesting similar levels for 2025. Security officials attribute this rise in violence primarily to disputes among drug trafficking organizations over territory, particularly around Limón province where homicide rates have surged since the opening of Moín seaport in 2019.
In November 2023, OFAC designated Gilbert Hernan de Los Angeles Bell Fernandez under Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 due to his role in transforming Limón into a key narcotics hub and contributing to related violence.
A constitutional reform signed by Costa Rica’s President in May 2025 now allows extradition of nationals accused of drug trafficking or terrorism. Two individuals targeted by today’s sanctions—Celso Manuel Gamboa Sanchez and Edwin Danney Lopez Vega—are subject to extradition requests from the United States. On June 23, 2025, both were arrested by Costa Rican police on drug trafficking charges.
Gamboa previously served as Vice Minister of Public Security in Costa Rica and used his government contacts to obtain information about counternarcotics investigations, which he then sold to those under investigation. He also bribed officials and laundered proceeds through companies including Bufete Celso Gamboa & Asociados—a sole proprietorship based in San José—and Limón Black Star FC, a second-division soccer club.
Other individuals designated include Alejandro Antonio James Wilson and Alejandro Arias Monge. James worked closely with Gamboa using corrupt officials at Moín seaport to move cocaine shipments from Colombia through Costa Rica onward to international destinations. Arias is described as one of Costa Rica’s most wanted fugitives; he has evaded arrest using information provided by Gamboa’s contacts.
The Department of State is offering up to $500,000 under its Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program for information leading to Arias's arrest or conviction.
Lopez is identified as another major trafficker operating out of Limón who collaborates with Gamboa and James on cocaine distribution efforts while also laundering money alongside Gamboa.
All four individuals—Gamboa, James, Arias, Lopez—are designated pursuant to E.O. 14059 for activities contributing significantly to international illicit drug proliferation or production means. Bufete Celso Gamboa & Asociados and Limón Black Star FC are sanctioned for acting on behalf of Gamboa.
Following these designations, all property or interests belonging to these persons within U.S jurisdiction are blocked; U.S persons are generally prohibited from transactions involving them unless authorized by OFAC regulations or licenses. Entities owned at least fifty percent by any blocked person are also covered by these restrictions.
Violations can result in civil or criminal penalties under strict liability standards set forth by OFAC guidelines (see: https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/44256/download?inline). Financial institutions risk additional sanctions if they facilitate significant transactions involving these individuals or entities.
OFAC states its goal is not punitive but aims instead at changing behavior through its sanctions process; procedures exist for seeking removal from sanction lists via formal petitions (see: https://ofac.treasury.gov/sdn-list/removal).
Further details about today's designees can be found here: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2331
“Today’s action builds on OFAC’s previous collaboration with the DEA in Costa Rica. On November 15, 2023, OFAC designated one of the most prolific drug traffickers in Limón—Costa Rican narcotics trafficker Gilbert Hernan de Los Angeles Bell Fernandez (Bell)—pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 for the significant role he played in Costa Rica’s transformation into a major narcotics transit hub as well as the violence associated with his operations.”
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