In a major operation spearheaded by the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Security and the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), nearly fifty raids were conducted across several provinces, including Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, San José, and Puntarenas, to dismantle a sophisticated criminal network involved in property fraud. This extensive effort is aimed at disrupting a group that is believed to have illegally acquired up to 300 properties.
The Masterminds Behind the Fraud
The criminal organization, named “Madre Patria,” was led by two Spaniards, Gómez, 42, and León, 41. These individuals orchestrated the fraudulent acquisition of properties through two main methods:
- Property Theft and Sale: The group identified and stole properties that were unused or neglected, then sold them to unsuspecting buyers.
- Fake Liquidators: Exploiting a legal loophole, they falsely appointed company liquidators for defunct legal entities, enabling them to sell off the properties owned by these entities.
Randall Zúñiga López, the director of the OIJ, explained that 54 individuals have been implicated in the scheme, with 42 arrests targeted in the current wave of operations.
Multi-Faceted Criminal Network
The investigation uncovered several key components within the criminal organization:
- Leadership: The ringleaders responsible for identifying target properties and orchestrating the fraud.
- Notaries: A critical team of 13 notaries who facilitated the fraudulent transactions. All of these notaries have been detained.
- Cryptocurrency Operations: A dedicated group that managed cryptocurrency transactions. In a single day, this team transacted $13 million in Bitcoin.
- Bus Component: This aspect involved five traffic police officers and a Public Transportation Council (CTP) official who conspired to issue fines and sanctions to rival bus companies, paving the way for the criminal group to take over these routes.
- Judicial Officials: Included five judicial officials, among them a judge from the Desamparados Court who provided legal cover and used his business outlets to launder money.
The Operation and Its Impact
During the raids, authorities seized 38 vehicles and 13 buses from various transportation lines. Zúñiga López emphasized that the police officers involved issued fines to rival bus lines, allowing the criminal group to subsequently take control of those lines. This elaborate scheme also involved falsified documents and ideological falsifications to legitimize their illegal activities.
The operation is a culmination of over two and a half years of meticulous investigation. Authorities believe based on internal communications of the gang that the theft involves over 300 properties.
Judicial Proceedings and What Happens Next
In a significant judicial move, the Penal Court of San José has ordered a year of preventive detention for 20 suspects linked to the organization. These individuals face charges including ideological falsification, use of false documents, major fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and bribery.
An additional nine individuals have been subjected to various precautionary measures as the investigation proceeds. The case, registered under file number 22-005018-0042-PE, remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to uncover the full extent of the criminal operations.
Unfortunately this is not new and these type of property fraud cases have decades of being carried out in Costa Rica by different type of criminal networks. The judicial process to recover the property tends to be extremely slow so it will be interesting to monitor this case to see how quickly they are able to unravel this sophisticated criminal enterprise.
