Former Costa Rican Security Minister Indicted in US Drug Trafficking Case

Celso Manuel Gamboa Sanchez, a former Costa Rican security minister and judge, has been indicted in the U.S. on charges of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and import cocaine into the United States. He was arrested in Costa Rica following a U.S. extradition request and currently remains jailed there, awaiting extradition. Gamboa Sanchez allegedly worked with international drug traffickers, including his associate Edwin Danny López Vega, to facilitate cocaine shipments through Costa Rica to the U.S., laundering money through local channels such as a soccer team. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative targeting drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations. If convicted, Gamboa Sanchez faces a minimum of ten years and up to life in federal prison, although extradition treaty limits might apply. The investigation involves the DEA, FBI, and other federal task forces, highlighting the high-level involvement of a former official in drug trafficking activities.