Costa Rican authorities have detained seven Nepalis without immigration papers and an alleged Costa Rican smuggler, said lainformacion, a Costa Rican website. 

The incident occurred on Sunday in southern Costa Rica near the border with Panama, when security forces stopped a vehicle carrying the seven Nepalis driven by a Costa Rican named Ledezma.

“Under these conditions, the police believe that the crime is the coyote (human trafficking),” said a statement from the Ministry of Security.Investigating authorities suspect that the group of Nepalis came from a South American country and were heading for San Jose, the Costa Rican capital.

Foreign nationals are being detained in a police station south of the country and are being provided care and food while their immigration status is resolved, said the Ministry of Security. The driver is in custody and is suspected of human trafficking, punishable by up to eight years in prison.

Published on: 10 August 2012 | The Kathmandu Post