By Leland Baxter-Neal
Tico Times Staff

Authorities yesterday arrested at least two people allegedly involved in a ring dedicated to trafficking Chinese people to Costa Rica, announced Francisco Segura, Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) assistant director, at a press conference yesterday.

Officials had been monitoring the group since the end of last year, when a representative approached General Immigration Administration Director Mario Zamora and offered him $5,000 for every visa he would approve for a Chinese. With the backing of the Judicial Branch and investigators, officials said yesterday, Zamora accepted the offer, and cash payments that totaled approximately $20,000 were made to a Judicial Branch bank account.

The two suspects were detained in western San José as they were allegedly preparing to hand over 30 Chinese passports, officials said, but did not specify to whom the passports were being given. Police confiscated the 30 passports as evidence. Authorities identified the driver of the vehicle as an employee at the Legislative Assembly, while the passenger was identified as a Chinese woman with the last name of Tan.

Segura said officials are raiding various locations in San José and Cartago, east of San José, and expect more arrests to come. Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal told the press he is sure Immigration had corrupt high-level officials during previous administrations, but would wait for investigations to prove him right.