Criminal Syndicates Converge on Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park

Park rangers in Costa Rica are confronting an increasingly dangerous environment as illegal mining operations within Corcovado National Park become intertwined with international drug trafficking networks. In March 2026, authorities received intelligence regarding a clandestine mining site, prompting a grueling trek by park officials to intercept illegal activity in the protected reserve. These conservation efforts are now complicated by the presence of criminal groups that utilize the park’s remote terrain not only for resource extraction but also to launder illicit profits generated from the global cocaine trade.

Costa Rica serves as a critical transshipment hub for narcotics moving toward North American and European markets, a role that has fueled a significant rise in local criminal activity. Official data reveals a sharp increase in cocaine seizures, which surged to 46.5 tons in 2025, marking a 70 percent jump from the previous year. As these trafficking syndicates expand their reach into illegal mining, the pressure on the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) intensifies. Rangers, who are tasked with protecting one of the world's most biodiverse regions, currently face a severe lack of operational support while attempting to mitigate the damage caused by miners, poachers, and drug runners. The convergence of these criminal economies threatens the ecological integrity of the Osa Peninsula and creates a volatile landscape for those charged with its defense.