Man carrying USD 250,000 arrested at Costa Rican airport

San Jose, March 2 : Drug enforcement agents arrested a Mexican carrying USD 250,000 in undeclared cash over the weekend at Costa Rica's largest airport, making this the fourth large seizure of cash this year in the Central American country, the security ministry said.

The cash was found Saturday at Juan Santamaria International Airport where the suspect arrived on a flight from Guadalajara, Mexico.

"Suspicions arose when the man, whose last name is Munoz Briceno and who is 24 years old, started acting strangely, making police think that he was up to something," the ministry said.

Drug enforcement agents searched the Mexican and his luggage, finding the cash in a suitcase.

The suspect was turned over to prosecutors in Alajuela, located about 20 km west of San Jose, where he faces money laundering charges.

Several Mexicans carrying large sums of cash have been arrested this year at Juan Santamaria International Airport, with officials saying that the money is likely linked to drug trafficking.

During the first two months of the year, five Mexicans - a couple, a woman and two men - have been arrested in four separate incidents and authorities seized USD 874,290.

"All these cases, but especially the ones involving Mexicans, make us suspect that they came to pay for some service provided, such as smuggling or warehousing of drugs," Security Minister Janina Del Vecchio said.