Trafficking’s ‘El Diablo’ Hit: Costa Rica’s Most Wanted Drug Lord Arrested, U.S. Seeks Extradition

Costa Rican authorities have arrested Alejandro Arias Monge, widely known by the nickname “El Diablo,” during an operation carried out in the Rio Frío area, about 90 kilometers northeast of the capital San José.

The U.S. government had offered a reward of up to $500,000 for information leading to his arrest. According to investigations, Arias led an international criminal network with a high-profile of violence and was wanted on charges including drug trafficking, committed murders, robbery, and money laundering. Costa Rica’s Attorney General announced that extradition proceedings will begin once the United States files a formal request.

The operation escalated into a firefight that continued for about 45 minutes. In the clash, one person suspected of being a member of the structure was killed, eight police force members were wounded, and two other individuals were taken into custody, among them another wanted chief. The head of the Judicial Investigation Agency stressed that inside the residence where the intervention took place, three of the country’s most wanted individuals were hiding, and the groups they belong to are suspected of being responsible for around 360 murders, nearly 200 of those from the organization led by Arias alone.

During the raid, law enforcement seized automatic weapons, various pistols, and drones used to spy on police maneuvers. Investigators believe that Arias had been hiding for a time in Nicaraguan territory and appears to have been on the run for over a decade, after evading a trial for a murder charge.