Costa Rica turns to prevention as key weapon to fight drug onslaught.

AutorRodriguez, George

Costa Rica, a country that historically has prioritized social investment over security spending, is now challenged by the violence stemming from the onslaught of criminal activity--mostly drug trafficking--that is gripping Central America.

A major component of this security challenge is the threat the drug problem poses to the country's young people, especially those in vulnerable social and economic situations, many of whom fall prey to trafficking structures.

Over the past several years, the Central American isthmus has been increasingly used by drug traffickers as a bridge between the cocaine producers in South America and the consumer market in the US, and has become a war zone where military and police forces fight the powerful international drug cartels.

Ongoing territorial wars between local gangs clashing over control of turf for marketing drugs have raised the level of violence throughout the region, especially in the area's Northern Triangle--El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras--where organized crime structures plus hundreds of youth gangs known as maras have turned the three nations into one of the world's most violent places (NotiCen, Jan. 7, 2016, May 26, 2016, Jan. 26, 2017).

Homicide statistics up

In Costa Rica, homicide statistics have reached their highest level so far: 11.8 per 100,000 last year, from 6.3 per 100,000 in 2000. In the 2010-2016 period, homicides went from 461 to 580 a year, a statistic that, for this country's traditional security standards, is alarming. Most of the drug-related homicides are committed by hitmen in the 15-30 age group, a socially vulnerable population segment that includes school dropouts, unemployed youngsters, members of dysfunctional families (often, "drug families"), and small outfits engaged in drug retailing, according to local authorities (NotiCen, Sept. 8, 2016, and Jan. 19, 2017). Among the areas showing the highest impact are the densely-populated, middle-class and low-income districts of Desamparados--also known as "Desampa"--and Guadalupe, respectively on the southeastern and northeastern outskirts of San Jose, the nation's capital.

In Costa Rica, homicide statistics have reached their highest level so far: 11.8 per 100,000 last year, from 6.3 per 100,000 in 2000. In the 2010-2016 period, homicides went from 461 to 580 a year, a statistic that, for this country's traditional security standards, is alarming. Most of the drug-related homicides are committed by hitmen in the 15-30...

Para continuar leyendo

Solicita tu prueba

VLEX utiliza cookies de inicio de sesión para aportarte una mejor experiencia de navegación. Si haces click en 'Aceptar' o continúas navegando por esta web consideramos que aceptas nuestra política de cookies. ACEPTAR