A joint maritime operation by Costa Rican and U.S. authorities on November 28, 2025, resulted in the seizure of approximately 4.4 tons of cocaine off Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Two Colombian nationals were arrested in the significant interdiction, which dealt a substantial blow to drug trafficking networks and highlighted ongoing international cooperation.
Costa Rican authorities have arrested three individuals in connection with the murder of a 60-year-old German man and a 57-year-old Austrian woman. Their bodies were discovered buried on their property in Quepos, Puntarenas, with robbery suspected as the motive. The arrests followed an extensive investigation by the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).
Randall Zúñiga, the director of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), is facing a criminal investigation for alleged sexual assault and abuse. The Public Ministry confirmed a formal complaint was filed on October 24, 2025, with alleged incidents occurring in January 2025. Zúñiga has been provisionally suspended for 15 business days by the Supreme Court of Justice.
Global Affairs Canada has issued a travel advisory for Costa Rica, recommending Canadians 'exercise a high degree of caution' due to prevalent petty and violent crime, natural hazards, and other challenges. The advisory highlights risks such as theft, armed robberies, dangerous coastal waters, and health concerns.
Authorities in Limón, Costa Rica, intercepted a container with 3 tons of cocaine hidden among fresh fruit at the Moin Container Terminal. The shipment was bound for Germany, and a 32-year-old driver was arrested in connection with the discovery.
A global Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage on October 20, 2025, partially affected the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) and the Ministry of Finance. The disruption, caused by a DNS resolution failure in AWS's US-EAST-1 region, impacted critical systems and electronic invoicing, highlighting global reliance on cloud infrastructure.
A tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea has a 90% probability of forming into a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. While not expected to make direct landfall, Costa Rica's National Meteorological Institute warns of significant indirect effects, including increased rainfall, potential flooding, and landslides, particularly along the Pacific slope this week.
Costa Rica has officially joined the United States, Mexico, and Jamaica in a joint bid to co-host the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. This unopposed four-nation effort aims to deliver the first 48-team tournament, with FIFA expected to make a formal decision in April 2026.
Costa Rica's National Meteorological Institute (IMN) and National Emergency Commission (CNE) have issued an Orange Alert for most of the country due to persistent heavy rains, thunderstorms, flooding, and landslides. The Intertropical Convergence Zone and Tropical Wave #35 are contributing to saturated soils and numerous incidents, prompting calls for extreme caution.
A person, reportedly a minor, died after being critically injured with at least eight bullet impacts in a shooting in Río Azul, La Unión, Costa Rica, on the night of October 9, 2025. The victim was rushed to Hospital San Juan de Dios but succumbed to their injuries. Authorities are investigating the incident.
The World Bank's Executive Board approved a US$300 million loan for Costa Rica on September 30, 2025. This financing aims to bolster fiscal management efficiency and foster sustainable economic activities, with a focus on creating new and improved jobs, particularly in rural and coastal areas. The loan supports tax collection, public spending efficiency, debt management, and green economy initiatives.
Costa Rica has launched its inaugural fleet of 25 electric buses, operated by BIUSA, marking a significant stride towards sustainable mobility. These 12-meter buses, equipped with 310 kWh batteries, will serve key routes in the San José metropolitan area, supported by a robust fast-charging infrastructure.
