Costa Rica extradites citizens to US in historic shift on crime policy

Costa Rica has, for the first time in recent history, extradited its own citizens to the United States, marking a significant break with long-standing legal tradition and a sharper turn in its approach to organised crime.

The move follows a 2025 constitutional amendment that lifted a previous ban on extraditing Costa Rican nationals. The policy change was framed by the government as a necessary response to rising drug-related crime and limitations within the domestic justice system.

Among those extradited on Friday was Celso Gamboa, a former Supreme Court justice and deputy attorney general, alongside alleged drug trafficker Edwin Lopez Vega. Both men were placed on a flight to Texas to face charges tied to cocaine trafficking and conspiracy.

Officials in San José presented the extradition as a signal of intent.

“Costa Rica is sending a strong message: no one can use our nationality to evade justice,” Attorney General Carlo Diaz said. He described the moment as a turning point, noting that “high-profile individuals” were involved and calling it “a historic day”.

The legal shift is narrowly defined. Extradition applies only to suspects accused of drug trafficking and “terrorism”, and includes safeguards — individuals cannot be sent abroad to face the death penalty or prison terms exceeding 50 years, the maximum allowed under Costa Rican law.

Supporters argue the change gives authorities stronger tools to confront increasingly sophisticated criminal networks, particularly those operating across borders. Critics, however, see it as a hardline measure that sidesteps deeper structural issues and exposes citizens to foreign legal systems.

The case of Gamboa illustrates the stakes. Once a senior figure within Costa Rica’s security and judicial institutions, he has been accused by US authorities of using his government connections to obtain sensitive information and pass it to criminal networks. The US Treasury alleged that “Gamboa used his extensive network of contacts within the government to acquire information about ongoing counternarcotics investigations” and “subsequently sold this information to the targets of those exact investigations”.

Gamboa has denied wrongdoing, saying the accusations were made in “bad faith”, and has suggested he may testify against other officials if his safety is guaranteed.

The extradition also reflects a broader regional trend. Countries like Ecuador have adopted similar measures in recent years, expanding cooperation with the United States as part of a more aggressive strategy against organised crime.

That alignment is visible in Costa Rica’s wider relationship with Washington. Under President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, ties have deepened, including cooperation on deportation policies and regional security initiatives.