Operation Exodus: Well-known concert promoters arrested in Costa Rica for ties to drug trafficking
The entertainment world in Costa Rica has been shaken following a massive judicial intervention carried out this Wednesday, October 7. The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) and the Drug Trafficking Prosecutor’s Office carried out the so-called Operation Exodus, which resulted in the arrest of 18 people, including prominent event producers Don Stockwell Ulloa and Hugo Benavides Barboza.
The operation, which included 22 raids in key locations of the country such as Santa Ana, Escazú, Alajuela, and Heredia, seeks to dismantle a financial network linked to drug trafficking, which used the mass entertainment industry to launder money from illicit activities.
Million-dollar investments under the microscope
According to authorities, the criminal structure led by Edwin Vargas García, alias “Sobrino”—who is already in prison—reportedly injected nearly 860,000 dollars into three large-scale concerts. Investigations indicate that this capital, allegedly originating from drug trafficking, was introduced into legitimate events to generate returns and legitimize the funds.
- Ricardo Montaner Concert (2023): An investment of 130,000 dollars by the criminal group is estimated.
- Nitro Circus (2024): The attributed contribution would amount to about 222,445 dollars.
- Aventura Tour (2024): An investment of 300,000 dollars was reported with a profit projection of 12.5%.
These are events where these individuals participated and received financial investment from the group of alias Sobrino. It is very likely that these are investments made in cash and are not banked.
Michael Soto, interim director of the OIJ
It is important to highlight that the OIJ has emphasized that the international artists who were part of these shows have no connection to the investigated events or the criminal structure.
Beyond the stages
The dismantled network did not limit its actions to concerts. The authorities have detected an economic framework that included:
- Buying and selling of livestock and high-value properties.
- Illicit operations with gold, allegedly sourced from areas such as Crucitas.
- Informal lending and extortion activities.
- Clandestine lottery.
During the operations, agents managed to seize luxury vehicles, firearms, and assets preliminarily valued at 700 million colones. The Attorney General, Carlo Díaz, noted that this operation seeks to eliminate the “financial muscle” of the organization, which, despite having its leaders in prison, maintained active operations from within the penitentiary centers.
The detainees, including Don Stockwell and Hugo Barboza, remain at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, awaiting the definition of the corresponding precautionary measures while the judicial process advances under the principle of presumption of innocence.
