Costa Rica Seizes Liquid Cocaine in First At-Sea Interception

Costa Rican authorities recently made a significant drug seizure off the coast of Golfito, Puntarenas, intercepting a fishing boat carrying 560 kilograms of cocaine dissolved into liquids and hidden inside plastic barrels. Additionally, they discovered another 95 kilograms of powder cocaine on board. This marks the first time Costa Rica has successfully intercepted liquid cocaine in an at-sea operation.

The innovative method of dissolving cocaine into various liquids or everyday products serves to mask its distinctive odor and evade detection by both canine units and scanning equipment. This technique, which authorities have been tracking for several years, is becoming increasingly prevalent across Colombia and Bolivia. The trend has now spread throughout the region as criminal organizations continue to adapt their trafficking methods to avoid law enforcement scrutiny.

Earlier this week, Cuban customs officials uncovered over 10 kilograms of liquid cocaine concealed within shampoo and conditioner bottles at an airport in Havana, mirroring a similar incident reported earlier in January. Such creative concealment strategies highlight the evolving tactics employed by drug traffickers across Latin America and the Caribbean.

InSight Crime’s recent report on cocaine seizures throughout 2025 underscores the growing use of these sophisticated methods to transport illicit drugs. The organization has documented numerous instances where traffickers have used everything from aerosol cans to food products to smuggle cocaine, demonstrating a relentless pursuit of new ways to circumvent detection.

Meanwhile, in Ecuador, violence continues to plague the criminal underworld as authorities intensify their efforts against major crime figures and their networks. On July 12, David Gabriel Macías Villamar, the brother of José Adolfo Macías Villamar—known by his alias "Fito," leader of the notorious Choneros gang—was shot dead in a beach town within Santa Elena province.

The assailants were reportedly more than a dozen gunmen dressed as police officers who disarmed security guards before executing their target. David Gabriel was described as a regional leader with significant influence over Manabí province and nearby prisons, indicating his pivotal role within the Choneros organization.

This killing comes less than three weeks after another of Fito’s brothers, Javier “Javi” Macías Villamar, was apprehended in Colombia, and approximately six weeks following the conviction of several family members on charges related to money laundering for Fito. As law enforcement pressure escalates, key figures within criminal networks are facing increasing risks.

The recent developments underscore the ongoing challenges faced by authorities across Latin America as they grapple with evolving drug trafficking methods and persistent violence associated with organized crime groups.