By Adesakin Adefemi
Former Costa Rican security minister Celso Gamboa was extradited on Friday to the United States, where he faces drug trafficking charges. The 49-year-old has vowed to implicate officials in the current government in the case.
Gamboa, who served as security minister from 2014-2018, was handed over by a judge to US anti-drug agents along with his alleged partner, Edwin Lopez Vega, alias “Pecho de Rata”. The transfer took place amid a massive security operation at Juan Santamaria International Airport.
Gamboa is the highest-ranking former Costa Rican official accused of drug trafficking. He has denied allegations that he and Vega laundered their drug trafficking profits through a soccer team.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, Gamboa helped “other international drug traffickers manufacture, distribute, and transport significant quantities of cocaine, much of which was trafficked through Costa Rica into the United States.”
Gamboa, sanctioned by the US Treasury, said he would speak with US authorities about people who “are currently in the executive branch” and should be imprisoned. He claimed not a single gram of cocaine was seized and no money was unjustified.
The extradition is a historic day for Costa Rica, marking the first time a national has been extradited following 2025 constitutional reforms allowing for the extradition of nationals.
Gamboa’s lawyer had attempted to prevent the extradition with last-minute legal appeals, but the efforts were rejected. He was taken away in handcuffs and under heavy guard.
The move comes as Costa Rica struggles with increased drug trafficking, having gone from a transit point to a logistical hub. The country has lost its status as one of the safest in the region.
Gamboa’s extradition has sparked debate, with some questioning the implications for Costa Rica’s government and politics. The US has praised the move as a significant step in combating drug trafficking.
