AI-written summary of reporting by The Straits Times. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

Costa Rica extradited two men accused of drug trafficking to the United States on Thursday, the country's attorney general said, naming the suspects as Gilbert Bell Fernandez, known as Macho Coca, and Gabriel Lozano, known as Compadre.

The Straits Times

Costa Rica extradites two alleged drug traffickers to face US federal charges

Aug 13, 2026, 2:40 PM

Costa Rica extradited two men accused of drug trafficking to the United States on Thursday, the country's attorney general said, naming the suspects as Gilbert Bell Fernandez, known as Macho Coca, and Gabriel Lozano, known as Compadre.

Context

The two men are due to face trial in US federal court in New York, according to the attorney general's office.

The US imposed sanctions on Bell, 62, in 2023 for what it described as his 'significant role in the recent transformation of Costa Rica into a major narcotics transit hub.' Bell had been jailed in San Jose since 2024 on charges of stealing state-owned fuel.

Authorities accuse Lozano, a Colombian national who obtained Costa Rican citizenship, of using Costa Rica as a transit point for cocaine moving from South American producers to markets farther north.

Costa Rica approved legislation in 2025 allowing the extradition of its citizens on drug trafficking or terrorism charges, following a surge in violence linked to the spread of drug trafficking groups. The first Costa Ricans were extradited under that measure in March. Authorities have said approximately 20 Costa Rican suspects are currently facing extradition proceedings, along with a similar number of foreign nationals.

All Perspectives
Costa Rica Attorney General Carlo Diaz: Diaz said in a video statement that the extraditions resulted from cooperation with US and international authorities 'in which we share common objectives in the fight against crime, especially international drug trafficking.'
Position not represented in the source reporting: Gilbert Bell Fernandez; Gabriel Lozano.
Gaps & Unknowns
  • The source does not state the specific charges Bell and Lozano face in US federal court.
  • The source does not state when or how Lozano was arrested or how long he had been in custody.
  • The source does not include any response or statement from Bell, Lozano, or their legal representatives.
  • The source does not specify which US agency or court issued the extradition requests.
  • The source does not state the date on which the extraditions physically took place beyond 'Thursday.'
Sources & Further Reading
  1. The Straits Times — original

Read the original at The Straits Times

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