By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The United States government has announced a reward of up to $500,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Alejandro Arias-Monge, alias “Diablo,” the most wanted fugitive in Costa Rica and the alleged leader of a violent transnational criminal organization.
The reward, issued by the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP), aims to intensify international efforts to apprehend Arias, whose criminal network has become a significant threat to regional and U.S. security.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Arias is wanted in Costa Rica for multiple charges including drug trafficking, robbery, aggravated homicide, and money laundering.
His criminal enterprise is accused of orchestrating the smuggling of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Central America—via Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala—en route to Mexico and ultimately the United States.
Authorities say Arias has cultivated a climate of fear across Costa Rica by using social media to broadcast threats, share images of firearms, and even circulate videos of murders.
His organization reportedly has operational cells embedded in all seven provinces of Costa Rica, amplifying concerns about his extensive influence and capacity for violence.
“The Arias organization not only floods our streets with illegal drugs but also terrorizes communities through ruthless intimidation,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
“This reward is a clear signal that transnational criminal activity will not go unanswered.”
The reward initiative supports global law enforcement cooperation to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks that endanger public safety and international stability.
