KATHMANDU, Nepal– At least three dozen Nepali migrants heading to the United States through informal channels via South America have been held in Costa Rica in the last five days.
According to www.ticotimes.net, the online edition of local Tico Times, local police detained a group of seven Nepalis, on Friday, and 27 on Monday.
They were arrested in separate operations carried out by Costa Rica’s National Police in the Paso Canoas, along the country’s border with Panama.
In a statement, Costa Rica’s Public Security Minister Celso Gamboa said the migrants’ likely final destination was the United States. “We have reports that these migrants usually arrive by sea in Ecuador and continue their journey by land, mainly to the US,” he said.
The report said the detained Nepalis were without passports and being transported in a sport utility vehicle. The driver was arrested on the charge of human trafficking.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government was deeply concerned about the incidence.