AGP Executive Report

Costa Rica Extradition Watch: Costa Rican courts are weighing 24 extradition requests tied to international drug trafficking, with the U.S. seeking 20 suspects and Panama and France requesting two each—an important shift since constitutional reform in 2025 opened the door for extraditing nationals in these cases. Constitutional Court vs. Secrecy: Opposition parties have taken President Laura Fernández’s “state secret” national security decree to the Sala IV, arguing it blocks transparency and fiscal oversight. Coastal Land Enforcement: The Constitutional Court ordered the Municipality of Osa to remove unapproved businesses and makeshift structures from public beachfront land at Playa Dominical, warning of possible criminal referrals if officials don’t comply. Weather Alert: Costa Rica’s meteorology institute issued warnings tied to Tropical Wave #34, with risks of downpours, thunderstorms, and flooding in vulnerable areas. UNICEF Funding: The EU is channeling nearly $20M to support vulnerable children across Latin America and the Caribbean, including child protection and education programs in Costa Rica.

Marriage Equality: Costa Rica became the first Central American country to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples, with the first legal weddings held in Heredia shortly after midnight Tuesday. State Secrecy Fight: Opposition lawmakers asked Costa Rica’s Constitutional Chamber to suspend a sweeping decree that expands state secrecy over security-related spending and contracts, arguing it blocks public oversight. Security & Surveillance Debate: Legislator Claudia Dobles warned that Israel’s Pegasus spyware could be used in Costa Rica, while a new nationwide poll found 96% of respondents want tougher laws against organized crime. Flood Response: Tropical Wave #33 left 473 schools closed and 1,300 people in shelters as health authorities stepped up drinking-water checks and disease surveillance. Drug Interdiction: A multinational operation intercepted a go-fast boat near the Panama-Costa Rica border, seizing 2,428 kg of cocaine and arresting three suspects. UN Politics: Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu urged UN reform in the race to replace António Guterres, as a new Ecuador-backed candidate, Ivonne Baki, entered the contest.

Security & Governance: Opposition legislator Claudia Dobles warns Costa Rica’s “state secrecy” rules around the DIS intelligence unit could enable spyware like Israel’s Pegasus to spy on political rivals, after President Laura Fernández defended secrecy tied to anti-drug efforts. Public Safety Poll: A nationwide Opol Consultores survey finds 96% of Costa Ricans want tougher laws against organized crime, with many saying they feel no safer than a year ago. Energy Transition: Coopeguanacaste is pushing ahead with the Abangares Solar Photovoltaic Park to strengthen the grid during the dry season and cut reliance on hydro. Tourism Strategy: Costa Rica is promoting its “Wellness Pura Vida” plan to position the country as a holistic longevity and reconnection destination. International Spotlight: The U.S. State Department launched a $750 expedited appointment pilot for certain B1/B2 visa applicants, with Costa Rica listed among participating missions. Environment & Science: Deep Pacific researchers report a brand-new deep-sea coral species near Isla del Coco, adding a new branch to the ocean’s family tree.

Energy & Climate: Costa Rica is pushing ahead with the Abangares Solar Park to strengthen the grid during the dry season and add clean power for more than 85,000 cooperative families in Guanacaste. Weather Watch: The IMN says El Niño is deepening Costa Rica’s split rainy pattern—meteorological drought now covers the Pacific slope and Central Valley while the Caribbean sees heavier rain. Politics & Cost of Living: Costa Rica moves to scrap “lavish” lifetime pensions for former presidents, filing a bill that would end the payments for all ex-leaders, including President Laura Fernández and Rodrigo Chaves. Health & Labor: Nurses at Hospital México walked off the job after talks with CCSS failed, hitting inpatient care as staffing shortages and contract concerns remain unresolved. Tourism Strategy: The country is rolling out “Wellness Pura Vida,” pitching nature-based reconnection and longevity experiences as a new tourism brand. UN Diplomacy: Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki has joined the race to become the next UN secretary-general, nominated by Tonga as the process continues.

El Niño and drought vs. heavy rain: Costa Rica’s Pacific side and Central Valley are now under meteorological drought, while the Caribbean is seeing unusually heavy rainfall, and the IMN warns El Niño could intensify to “very strong” between September and November, with major precipitation deficits expected through February 2027. Tourism and air access: Costa Rica welcomed 2.0 million international tourists in the first seven months of 2026, with Guanacaste’s Liberia airport driving the biggest growth thanks to more direct flights for beach destinations. Former-president pensions: President Laura Fernández has sent a bill to Congress to fully abolish special pensions for former presidents with no exceptions, including a waiver for pensions for Rodrigo Chaves and herself. Banana labor dispute: Corbana is pushing back against the Anker Research Institute’s living-wage methodology for Costa Rican banana producers, arguing it doesn’t match local conditions and favors competitors. UN leadership race: Ecuador’s Ivonne Baki has joined the race to become the next UN secretary-general, as Denmark prepares another Security Council straw poll. US legal fight tied to Costa Rica: The U.S. Justice Department is trying to revive migrant-smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose case has included Costa Rica’s willingness to accept him.

UN Leadership Watch: Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan is reported as the frontrunner to become the UN’s first female secretary-general, with a preliminary Security Council straw poll showing broad “encouragement” for her candidacy. Former-President Pensions: President Laura Fernández has sent a bill to fully abolish special pensions for former presidents, aiming to end “lavish” payments with no exceptions. Cost of Living: The dollar exchange rate in Costa Rica hit a new historic low around ¢448.96 as the Central Bank intervenes, while gasoline prices are set to flip again in September. Tourism & Local Business: Fogo de Chão opened its first Costa Rica restaurant in Escazú, bringing its churrasco concept to the Sheraton. Public Safety & Crime: Authorities in La Guácima seized 66 kg of cocaine in a vehicle stop and found about 925 kg in a linked home, with alleged ties to Mexico’s CJNG. Environment & Science: A “coffee frog” species tied to Costa Rican coffee farms is highlighted as potentially threatened by pesticides and habitat pressures. Tech & Mobility: A new survey finds 80% of Costa Ricans use mobility apps, with strong approval for pricing transparency and driver identification.

UN Leadership Watch: Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan is reported to be leading the first ballot to succeed António Guterres as the UN’s first female Secretary-General, with the Security Council process expected to wrap up in October. Public Safety & Drugs: U.S. and Costa Rican authorities seized 66 kg of cocaine in La Guácima and found about 925 kg more in a linked raid, with reporting tying the operation to Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Local Economy & Tourism: Fogo de Chão opens its first Costa Rica restaurant at the Sheraton in Escazú, bringing its churrasco-style dining to the country via a franchise partnership. Environment & Infrastructure: Route 27 launches an innovation challenge to reuse highway waste—especially tires and plastics—aiming to build circular-economy prototypes amid landfill pressure. Health Systems: PAHO and partners wrapped a regional ICD-11 mortality-coding training course that included Costa Rica and other countries across the Americas. Tech & Scams: New research warns AI can geolocate even ordinary travel photos, making social-media posts a growing risk for scammers targeting people in places like Costa Rica.

Route 27 Innovation Challenge: Costa Rica’s Route 27 is inviting startups and universities to turn highway waste into prototypes, with tires and plastics the top targets as landfill pressure grows. Coastal Cleanup Crisis: Volunteers say Guacalillo Beach is still getting hit by trash flowing down the Tárcoles River, forcing repeated weekend cleanups that never seem to end. New Marine Discovery: Scientists report a deep-sea coral off Costa Rica, Laurinque elenya, so genetically distinct it required a new family for classification. Tourism & Sports: The World Surf League’s Garabito Surf City Pro is in its decisive final stretch at Playa Hermosa, with Costa Rican surfers chasing home glory. Local Governance & Culture: Former Costa Rican film commissioner Marysela Zamora will keep working through Iberofic to push women’s leadership and more Spanish-language audiovisual content. Health Tourism: A new report highlights Costa Rica’s dental tourism pull, with many patients coming from the U.S. for lower-cost care plus a vacation. Congress Controversy: A legislator’s use of the term “escorts” in Costa Rica’s Assembly has sparked backlash and a formal condemnation motion.

Costa Rica Beach Cleanup Urgent: Volunteers say Guacalillo Beach is being overwhelmed by trash carried by the Tárcoles River, with plastic, cardboard, syringes, and other waste washing ashore after improper dumping upstream. Health Waiting Lists Reform: Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health says priority for healthcare appointments will now depend more on clinical risk and severity than on how long someone has been waiting, using five categories from immediate care to moderate priority. New Marine Discovery: Scientists report a deep-sea coral near Costa Rica so genetically distinct it required a new family name, found on seamounts off the Pacific coast. Tourism & Dental Care Demand: A new report highlights Costa Rica’s growing dental tourism, driven largely by U.S. patients seeking lower costs and pairing treatment with a vacation. Legislative Tensions: A legislator’s use of the term “escorts” in Congress has sparked backlash and a formal condemnation motion. Weather Alert: The National Emergency Commission raised yellow alerts for the Caribbean and parts of the Northern Zone as Tropical Wave No. 32 brings weekend rain.

Healthcare Reform: Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health changed how it prioritizes patients on healthcare waiting lists, moving from “time waited” alone to clinical risk, severity, complication risk, and how the delay affects quality of life, with five priority levels from P0 (under 24 hours) to P4. Weather Watch: The National Emergency Commission (IMN) raised the Caribbean and eastern Northern Zone to yellow alert as Tropical Wave No. 32 brings rain through the weekend, with gusty trade winds and showers shifting inland. Biodiversity Spotlight: Researchers identified a new deep-sea coral off Costa Rica that’s distinct enough to create a new coral family, found on Pacific seamounts near Isla del Coco. Politics in Congress: A legislator’s use of the term “escorts” during a dispute in the Legislative Assembly sparked backlash and a motion condemning the remarks. Wildlife Conservation: UNED researchers are monitoring an agami heron colony near Caño Negro after about 1,000 birds took refuge on a private estate.

Healthcare Reform: Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health changed how it prioritizes patients on healthcare waiting lists, moving beyond “time waiting” to clinical risk, severity, and impact on quality of life, with five categories from immediate care to moderate-priority elective treatment. Weather Alert: The National Emergency Commission (IMN) raised the Caribbean and eastern Northern Zone to yellow alert as Tropical Wave No. 32 moves in, bringing rain and gusty trade winds through the weekend. Politics in Congress: A legislator’s use of the term “escorts” to describe colleagues sparked backlash and a formal condemnation motion in the Legislative Assembly, deepening division between ruling and opposition lawmakers. Environment & Science: Researchers identified a distinct deep-water coral off Costa Rica that warranted a new taxonomic family, highlighting how much remains unknown in the Pacific’s seamount ecosystems. Public Safety & Justice: Costa Rica extradited drug kingpin “Macho Coca” (Gilbert Bell Fernández) to the U.S., where he faces federal charges tied to cocaine trafficking routes through Costa Rica.

Drug Enforcement: Costa Rica extradited “Macho Coca” Gilbert Bell Fernández and “Compadre” Gabriel Lozano Bonilla to the U.S., with prosecutors saying the pair helped move cocaine through Costa Rica tied to Colombia’s Gulf Clan. Immigration & Courts: A U.S. appeals court let the Trump administration’s ICE detention appeal proceed for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, while sending his deportation fight back to a judge. Economy & Industry: Costa Rican manufacturers are pausing expansion as the colón strengthens, with the exchange rate named the top competitiveness threat in a new CICR survey. Local Life & Travel: Costa Rica issued a green alert for the Caribbean and Northern Zone, warning of fast-rising flood risks on already-saturated ground. Culture & Food: A guide to Costa Rican casado and café chorreado highlights the “soda” experience as a must-do for visitors. Diplomacy: Costa Rica recalled its chargé d’affaires in Nicaragua for consultations amid worsening human rights concerns under the Ortega-Murillo regime.

Drug Enforcement: Costa Rica extradited “Macho Coca” Gilbert Bell Fernández and “Compadre” Gabriel Lozano Bonilla to the U.S., with prosecutors linking them to Colombia’s Gulf Clan and alleging large-scale cocaine trafficking. Local Economy: Costa Rican manufacturers are pausing expansion as the colón strengthens, with the chamber of industries citing exchange-rate pressure as the top competitiveness threat. Diplomacy & Rights: Costa Rica recalled its top diplomat in Nicaragua for consultations, citing worsening human rights conditions under the Ortega-Murillo regime. Regional Security: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met partners in Panama to plan anti-cartel cooperation under the “Shield of the Americas,” with Costa Rica listed among aligned countries. Social Impact: A new OECD ranking puts Costa Rica at the highest child poverty rate among member countries, at 29.6% (ages 0–17).

Drug Enforcement: Costa Rica extradited “Macho Coca” Gilbert Bell Fernández and “Compadre” Gabriel Lozano Bonilla to the U.S., sending them from Juan Santamaría Airport to New York for federal court—part of a wider push against international drug trafficking. Social Policy: A new OECD ranking puts Costa Rica at the top for child poverty, with 29.6% of children (0–17) living below the poverty line in 2023, far above the OECD low of Finland at 4.6%. Environment: Environmental groups have put Corcovado National Park on “red alert,” citing sewage discharges from Sirena Biological Station, crumbling infrastructure, and chronic underfunding. Public Safety: Search efforts continue in Costa Rica’s Chirripó National Park for a missing 58-year-old hiker, Reynaldo Pineda Lizano, with Red Cross teams using dogs and specialized routes. Trade & Diplomacy: Panama is evaluating Costa Rica’s proposal to settle a long-running WTO trade dispute from 2019, including arbitration. Regional Security: U.S. officials highlighted the “Shield of the Americas” anti-cartel coalition as Colombia joined, with operations discussed across the hemisphere.

Drug Enforcement: Costa Rica extradited two alleged drug traffickers to the U.S.—Gilbert Bell Fernandez (“Macho Coca”) and Gabriel Lozano (“Compadre”)—to face charges in New York, as authorities cite cooperation against international trafficking. Public Safety: Complaints about predatory “gota a gota” loan sharking in Costa Rica rose 21% from January to July 2026, with the OIJ warning 95% of cases end in aggression toward debtors. Politics & Governance: President Laura Fernández reversed course on “luxury pensions” for former presidents, moving from defending the benefit to proposing a bill to end it, including for herself. Diplomacy: Zelenskyy spoke by phone with Fernández about security cooperation and humanitarian issues, with both leaders inviting each other for official visits. Tech & Infrastructure: Ericsson says it will supply Costa Rica’s ICE 5G network and use AI-powered automation rApps for the first Latin American implementation. Migration Admin: Costa Rica’s DGME says 2,614 DIMEX documents remain uncollected and can be picked up at set times at migration headquarters. Science & Environment: Researchers report a new deep-sea coral family from Costa Rica seamounts, discovered off Isla del Coco.

Immigration & Residency: Costa Rica’s DGME says 2,614 DIMEX documents are still uncollected, with holders able to pick them up at Migration headquarters in La Uruca during set daily slots (10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm) using their original photo receipt. Public Safety & Social Services: San José Mayor Diego Miranda is asking President Laura Fernández for urgent government action after estimating about 2,300 people are living on the streets in the capital, calling it a failed policy that’s worsening nationally. Economy (Free Zones): Costa Rica’s free-zone sector slowed sharply in June, growing just 2.9% year over year—the weakest pace since 2020—dragged by weaker manufacturing and services momentum. Health & Climate: Costa Rica’s medical college warns El Niño-linked heat and rainfall shifts could raise risks for cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, allergy, kidney, and occupational problems, especially for vulnerable groups. International Spotlight: Finland topped the World Happiness Report, with Costa Rica ranking fourth—its highest-ever position.