Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago

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Costa Rica was once known as Central America’s peaceful paradise. Now cartels, cocaine trafficking, rising homicides, and political battles threaten its stability. Can Laura Fernández reverse the country’s violent slide?

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Sources
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aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/4/economist-rodrigo-chaves-elected-costa-ricas-president
cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/10/18/costa-rica-face-record-breaking-levels-crime-tourists
nbcnews.com/news/latino/el-salvador-says-murders-fell-70-gang-crackdown-rcna132285
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aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/20/ex-minister-gamboa-targeted-in-costa-ricas-first-extradition-to-the-us
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larepublica.net/rebaja-de-c-23-722-millones-al-presupuesto-del-poder-judicial-afectaria-el-combate-al-crimen