Summary
Costa Rica has extradited Celso Gamboa, a former Supreme Court justice and high-ranking official, to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. This marks the first time Costa Rica has extradited its citizens for prosecution abroad, following a 2025 constitutional amendment that allowed such actions for serious crimes like drug trafficking and terrorism. The government views this as a critical move to combat organized crime, while critics worry about the implications for citizens' rights.
Key Facts
- Costa Rica extradited Celso Gamboa and Edwin Lopez Vega to the US for drug-related charges.
- Celso Gamboa is a former Supreme Court justice and deputy attorney general of Costa Rica.
- This is the first time Costa Rica has extradited its citizens for prosecution abroad.
- A 2025 constitutional amendment allows extraditions for drug trafficking and terrorism.
- The amendment prohibits extraditions if the death penalty or sentences over 50 years are possible.
- Costa Rica's government supports the move to combat increasing crime and corruption.
- Gamboa denies the charges, claiming they were made in "bad faith".
- Gamboa was arrested in Costa Rica in 2025, following a provisional warrant from Texas.
