AGP Executive Report

Organized Crime Crackdown: Costa Rica’s Prosecutor’s Office ordered the detention of two judges and an OIJ official over alleged links to the criminal group tied to “Diablo,” in the wider “Colorado Case” investigation. Violence Cycle Warning: A police science expert says arrests alone won’t stop violence because criminal leadership is increasingly getting younger, so prevention and social measures must follow enforcement. State Presence in Conflict Zones (Regional): A policy brief on Colombia urges pairing security with territorial development to strengthen state reach, expand legal jobs, and prevent armed groups from recruiting children. Telecom Expansion: Tarana Wireless and Costa Rica ISP Itellum demonstrated gigabit fixed wireless access, with SUTEL resolutions clearing the way for automated frequency coordination in the 6 GHz band. Tourism & Connectivity: Guanacaste Airport added a new weekly charter route from Chicago Rockford for the 2027 season, citing strong demand and job creation goals. Public Health Alerts: Dengue is rising in Costa Rica, with reports of 385 new cases in seven days, alongside new malaria concerns. Tech/Verification in Biotech: Peptides Costa Rica rolled out a new transparency standard, expanding batch/lot identification and making certificates of analysis easier to access.

Sustainable Tourism Spotlight: Arenal Fortuna in San Carlos won Ibero-America’s “Mature Sustainable Destination” prize, praising years of tourism growth tied to sustainability, local development, and community jobs. Health & Regulation: Peptides Costa Rica rolled out a new transparency standard—better batch/lot tracking, easier certificates of analysis, and tighter supplier checks—as scrutiny grows in the peptide market. Medical Tourism Shift: Costa Rica hospitals say more foreign patients are coming for inpatient, surgery-level care (not just quick procedures), with medical tourism now a major slice of arrivals and spending. Connectivity Push: Tarana Wireless and Itellum demonstrated live 1 Gbps fixed wireless access in Costa Rica using SUTEL’s new 6 GHz framework, aiming to close broadband gaps. Public Safety & Crime: Reporting highlights how drug violence is driving major political upheaval in Costa Rica, keeping security at the center of national debate. Culture & Community: Costa Rica marked Día de la Persona Negra y la Cultura Afrocostarricense with major celebrations in Limón, including the Grand Gala Parade 2026. Industry Growth: Costa Rica inaugurated its first medicinal cannabis manufacturing lab in Cartago, signaling a move from exporting raw materials to producing finished medicines.

Community Service: Students from the Church at Viera in Pavas spent a week painting murals and partnering with Hope Partners International to support children in a low-income area just outside San José. Telecom & Connectivity: Tarana Wireless and Itellum demonstrated live 1 Gbps fixed wireless access in Costa Rica, building on SUTEL’s new 6 GHz standard power framework aimed at closing broadband gaps. Health & Science: PAHO/WHO ran a subregional workshop in San José to strengthen bacterial meningitis surveillance across the Americas, focusing on lab capacity and faster outbreak response. Public Safety & Crime: A sharp rise in drug-related violence is driving major political upheaval in Costa Rica, with homicides up sharply since 2020 and pressure mounting for stronger security measures. Culture & Identity: Costa Rica marked Día de la Persona Negra y la Cultura Afrocostarricense with major events in Limón, including the Grand Gala Parade 2026 celebrating Afro-descendant heritage. Medicinal Cannabis Industry: Vantage Point Global inaugurated Costa Rica’s first medicinal cannabis manufacturing lab in Cartago, shifting the sector toward finished pharmaceutical products and projecting up to 420 jobs.

Medicinal Cannabis Manufacturing: Vantage Point Global opened Costa Rica’s first medicinal cannabis manufacturing lab in El Guarco, Cartago, moving the country beyond raw-material exports and aiming to hire up to 420 people as it produces oils, syrups, and tablets for local use and export to Europe. Health Watch: Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health reports a dengue surge, with 385 new cases in seven days and 58 cases flagged with warning signs, urging continued surveillance and prevention. Volcano Safety: Poás Volcano National Park stays open but under a green alert, with stricter access rules, reduced visitor capacity, and helmet requirements after increased seismic activity and gas emissions. Labor Reform: Costa Rican lawmakers approved a motion excluding public-sector employees from the proposed 4×3 work schedule that would allow 12-hour days in the private sector. Public Health Innovation: Costa Rica’s Caja (CCSS) performed its first 3D-printed personalized cranial prosthesis using its own technology, marking a medical milestone for specialized care. Independence Logistics: Ahead of Sept. 15’s 205th independence celebrations, the government outlined the “Independence Torch” relay covering about 378 km with thousands of police, Red Cross volunteers, and students. Corruption Case: A former Banco Nacional treasurer, Ricardo Olivas Valle, was sentenced to 30 years for embezzling about ¢3.2 billion in the “Gallo Tapado” case. Connectivity Boost: Liberty Costa Rica launched Starlink-based direct-to-device mobile service, extending coverage to remote areas and supporting emergency communications.

Satellite Connectivity: Liberty Costa Rica and Starlink launched a direct-to-device mobile service, extending coverage to remote areas and boosting emergency communications where cell towers don’t reach. Road Rules Update: Costa Rica scrapped the old three-month cap for foreign licenses; drivers can use their license for the exact period stamped in their passport (often up to 180 days), with limits for motorcycle use. Wildlife Crime Online: Costa Rica’s wildlife trafficking is increasingly moving to social media and encrypted marketplaces, with complaints rising sharply and prosecutors warning the country is becoming a “species bank” for buyers abroad. Banana Pressure: Heavy rains and waterlogged soils are hitting Caribbean banana farms, with flooding in key cantons and disease risk (including black sigatoka) expected to show damage over the next 10–12 weeks. Culture & Reading: A new survey finds fewer Costa Ricans read books overall, but young adults and seniors are buying more books per year—plus Afro-descendant culture in Limón is being celebrated through community storytelling and major events. Sports & Community: Costa Rica-linked cultural and sports items included a major Limón celebration and ongoing regional sports coverage. Corruption Case: A former Banco Nacional treasurer was sentenced to 30 years for embezzling about ¢3.2 billion in the “Gallo Tapado” case.

Costa Rica–Norway Diplomacy: Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry sent condolences to Norway after King Harald V’s death, praising his 35-year reign and commitment to duty. Volcano & Nature Updates: Costa Rica reopened Turrialba Volcano Park and Guayabo National Monument, while also tightening Poás Volcano visitation rules after an eruption and noting fresh seismic activity. Public Health & Weather: Costa Rica is seeing rising dengue and new malaria concerns, as heavy rains and winds disrupted border roads in Barú, Panama-side travel impacts spilling into the region. Energy & Connectivity: Costa Rica is pushing renewable energy financing via IRENA’s regional call and moves toward wider satellite coverage with Starlink. Economy for Expats: A new explainer breaks down the real cost of retiring in Costa Rica, including Medicare limits and exchange-rate pressure. Culture & Community: Indigenous worldviews take center stage in Costa Rica through gatherings featuring elders, traditional medicine, and music. International Spotlight: Ivanka Trump was photographed surfing during a Costa Rica family vacation, drawing fresh attention online.

Blue Zones & Longevity: Researchers say people in Blue Zones—including Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula—tend to live past 100 by sticking to simple habits, especially steady daily movement instead of gym-style workouts. Education Watch: Ghana’s GTEC warned the public about 100 unrecognized universities as of Aug. 28, 2026, including Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica, urging people to verify credentials before enrolling. Tourism & Culture: Costa Rica’s Caribbean heritage is in the spotlight with Puerto Viejo’s Wolaba Parade, returning Saturday with music, dance and Afro-descendant pride ahead of Aug. 31 celebrations. Energy Push: IRENA is inviting renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, with Costa Rica among eligible countries, aiming to speed up financing and de-risk deployments. Volcano/Weather: A storm in Panama’s border area caused trees to fall and road closures, with Sinaproc urging extra caution until cleanup is finished. Health & Travel Reality Check: A new explainer for retirees highlights how Costa Rica can look great on paper, but costs and Medicare coverage details can change the math fast.

Poás Volcano Safety: Costa Rica tightened rules at Poás Volcano National Park after an early eruption, cutting daily visitors to 1,064 (from 2,052) and requiring helmets on key trails; the crater viewpoint now caps 56 people for up to 20 minutes. Retirement Reality Check: A new guide for would-be retirees breaks down why Costa Rica can look affordable until you factor in Medicare limits, exchange-rate swings, and higher monthly costs. Tech Connectivity: Starlink Mobile launched in Costa Rica via Liberty, offering satellite voice notes, location sharing, and maps for coverage where towers drop out. Public Safety & Justice: A bill in Costa Rica would require proof that money used to pay defense lawyers is legal, limiting cash payments and pushing larger fees through traceable financial channels. Regional Disaster Response: Heavy rains and intense winds in Panama’s border area (Barú, Chiriquí) brought down trees and forced road clearing, with Senafront, fire services, and civil protection responding. Renewables Push: IRENA is inviting renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Costa Rica, for potential financing and de-risking support. Local Skills Program: A Glasgow church partnership helped complete Costa Rica’s Dream Center in San José, graduating 26 students from a six-month computer programming class.

Renewables Push: IRENA is inviting renewable energy developers across Central America and the Caribbean—including Costa Rica—to submit projects for possible support via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing, covering power generation, grid-linked infrastructure, e-mobility, green industry, and supply chains. Volcano Safety: Costa Rica tightened Poás Volcano rules after an eruption, cutting daily visitors to 1,064, requiring helmets on key trails, and limiting the crater viewpoint to 56 people at a time for up to 20 minutes. Justice & Money Laundering: A Frente Amplio bill would require proof that funds used to pay legal fees in drug cases are lawful, and would cap cash payments—pushing larger amounts to traceable methods. Connectivity: Starlink Mobile launched in Costa Rica with Liberty, offering satellite voice notes, location sharing, and maps for remote areas. Culture in Limón: The Grand Gala Parade returns for Afro-descendant cultural heritage, with music, dance, and traditional fashion marking the end of Afro-Cultural Month. Tech Training in San José: A Glasgow church partnership helped complete Costa Rica’s Dream Center, graduating 26 students from a six-month computer programming class.

Indigenous Culture Spotlight: Costa Rica hosted gatherings that bring together elders and reps from Boruca, Cabécar, and Huetar communities to share worldviews, natural medicine, and music—plus workshops on ceremonies, sacred cacao rituals, and ancestral chants, with a push for land protection and native-language preservation. Tech for Remote Areas: Starlink Mobile launched in Costa Rica through Liberty, letting customers use satellite connectivity on their phones for voice notes, location sharing, and maps in low-coverage regions. Public Safety & Courts: Frente Amplio lawmaker Antonio Trejos Mazariegos proposed tighter rules on paying legal fees in drug cases, requiring proof funds are lawful and limiting cash payments. Energy Infrastructure Update: ICE plans to demolish the historic Jorge Manuel Dengo Obregón building in La Sabana Norte and replace it with a new 21-story facility. Tourism & Community: Glasgow’s church partnership helped Costa Rica’s Dream Center complete a computer programming program for at-risk youth—26 students graduated. Afro-Caribbean Heritage: Limón’s Grand Gala Parade returns Aug. 31, celebrating Afro-descendant culture with music, dance, and food.

Drug-Case Cash Limits: Costa Rica’s Frente Amplio lawmaker Antonio Trejos Mazariegos proposes tighter rules on how suspected drug money can pay legal fees, requiring proof funds are lawful and capping cash payments at about ¢4.6 million (US$10,100), with larger amounts paid via traceable methods. Public Safety & Courts: The Wall Street Journal links Costa Rica’s drug killings surge to a widening clash between President Laura Fernández’s government and the judiciary, even as official homicide figures show a recent drop versus last year. Infrastructure Overhaul: ICE plans to demolish the historic Jorge Manuel Dengo Obregón building in La Sabana Norte and replace it with a modern 21-story, ~1,100-person facility costing about US$100 million. Wildlife Protection: Lawmakers approved a rule requiring wildlife crossings for roads that disrupt animal movement, with citizen science urged to push for crossings on existing routes. Health Watch: Dengue cases in Costa Rica have climbed above 3,400 (week 32), up 30% year-on-year, while malaria concerns are also resurfacing.

Drug Violence & Politics: The Wall Street Journal warns Costa Rica’s drug-killing surge is fracturing the political system, citing a sharp homicide rise since the Moín container terminal opened, while officials say the latest numbers are trending down versus last year. Judicial Independence Clash: President Laura Fernández is escalating her fight with the judiciary over crime and case handling, and Supreme Court President Orlando Aguirre says he won’t seek another term amid mounting tension between branches. Public Safety in Cartago: Fernández ordered extra police deployment in Cartago after 51 homicides, saying she’s woken by gunfire and quoting residents who fear daily life. Wildlife Protection: Costa Rica approved rules requiring wildlife crossings for roads that disrupt habitat, with citizen scientists invited to push for bridges where needed. Health Watch: Dengue cases have jumped to over 3,400 this year, while malaria is showing signs of resurgence, as health teams ramp up mosquito control. Environment & Species: Osa Conservation moved 13 white-lipped peccaries back to Piedras Blancas National Park after poaching wiped them out. International Links: India and Costa Rica discussed deeper cooperation, including Quick Impact Projects and payment tech. Travel & Culture: Costa Rica’s Aug. 31 Black People’s Day is a non-mandatory holiday, with pay rules depending on how workers are paid.

U.S.-Costa Rica ties: India and Costa Rica met to map ways to deepen bilateral cooperation, including “Quick Impact Projects” and finance talks tied to India’s Unified Payments Interface. Security and politics: Costa Rica’s drug-violence surge is fueling a widening clash between President Laura Fernández and the judiciary, with rising homicides and budget cuts turning into a major political fight. Immigration update for Costa Rica residents: The U.S. State Department temporarily paused immigration visa appointments in Costa Rica for staff training, but tourism and other non-immigrant categories remain unaffected. Media freedom in Costa Rica: CPJ and IAPA warned a proposed spectrum-fee bill could push radio and TV stations off air, arguing it risks undermining freedom of expression. Tourism momentum: Canada continues to surge as a source market for Costa Rica, with arrivals up sharply year-on-year and growth concentrated in routes feeding Guanacaste. Nature and wildlife: SINAC is monitoring unusual sea-lion sightings on the Pacific coast, urging the public to keep distance and avoid interference.

Media Freedom Under Threat: CPJ and IAPA warn Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly is considering a spectrum-usage fee that could hit radio and TV broadcasters hard enough to push some off air, arguing it risks violating freedom of expression. Immigration Regularization: Starting Sept. 1, Costa Rica’s immigration authority will roll out a Special Temporary Complementary Category (CETC) to help certain Nicaraguans, Cubans, Venezuelans and Colombians with pending or denied refugee claims regularize status and qualify for work permits. Tourism Demand Shift: Canada is now the fastest-growing source of tourists to Costa Rica, with arrivals up 25.1% in the first seven months of 2026, boosting pressure on northern Pacific routes and beach areas. Public Safety & Health: SENASA is still investigating why sick and dead pelicans are washing up on Costa Rica’s Pacific beaches, with tests so far ruling out avian influenza and Newcastle disease. Governance & Procurement: A Costa Rican outlet alleges Rodrigo Chaves-linked bills would allow officials and school boards to buy airline tickets and contracts outside standard public procurement rules—raising fresh corruption concerns. Environment & Climate: A study suggests Morpho butterflies in Costa Rica could look duller as hotter temperatures during development rise.

Investment Migration Watch: A new Global Citizen Solutions ranking of Latin America’s 11 residency/investor programs puts Panama first (Costa Rica is mid-pack), with the report saying Costa Rica trades speed for more flexibility. Tax & Courts: Costa Rica’s proposed “express seizures” plan could face constitutional challenges unless lawmakers adjust appeal deadlines, joint liability rules, and auction/asset adjudication procedures. Espionage & Rights: Reporting says Pegasus spyware has been used across Latin America to target journalists and activists, and Costa Rica’s debate over related security secrecy is reigniting scrutiny. Tourism & Culture: Costa Rica’s National Stadium is set to host a record run of major international concerts from August to December, boosting San José hotels, restaurants, and jobs. Local Life & Travel: British Airways expands winter service and adds more flights to San José; meanwhile, a separate report questions Costa Rica’s widely cited 98% literacy rate, pointing to self-reported survey limits. Sports: CONCACAF Nations League group play sets up Costa Rica opponents for the 2027 Gold Cup pathway.

Major Events Boost: Costa Rica’s National Stadium (La Sabana) is lining up a record run of international concerts from August to December, with big names like Iron Maiden, Karol G, Romeo Santos, and more—expected to lift hotel occupancy, restaurant traffic, and create thousands of temporary jobs. Local Culture & Lifestyle: A new look at “wellness” in Costa Rica argues the country’s farm-to-table routines and outdoor traditions were never just trends—they’re everyday life. Sports & Identity: Keylor Navas says Pumas is “already part of my story” as the club rebuilds under a new playing philosophy. Travel Reality Check: A passenger report describes a United Airlines weather diversion that spiraled into a near-20-hour ordeal, with long waits and limited updates. Education & Data Debate: A report questions whether Costa Rica’s 98% literacy rate is overstated, pointing to self-reported surveys rather than reading tests. Science Update: Seismologists link recent Central Valley quakes near Coronado to the Río Sucio fault system. Agrifood Funding Push: FAO calls for more coordinated investment in Latin America and the Caribbean agrifood systems, citing hunger and financing gaps.