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Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Straits Times
Cat in custody: Kitten caught with drug-filled vest at Costa Rican prison
Suspected marijuana, crack cocaine paste and rolling paper were found inside a plastic, vest-like structure affixed to the cat's torso. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM COSTA RICA MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND PEACE/FACEBOOK It was movement in the shadows – something small and quick – that caught the attention of a prison guard at Costa Rica's Pococi Peniten tiary. What the officer spotted was not an inmate, but a kitten carrying a secret: a vest concealing two packages of drugs, strapped around its torso. In a Facebook post published on May 9, Costa Rica's Ministry of Justice and Peace said that officers from the prison had captured the cat at Pococi Penitentiary, in the country's Limon province. According to the post, the feline was spotted in the 'green zone' on the night of May 6 near the prison's perimeter by an officer stationed in a guard tower, who immediately raised the alarm. In most prisons, the green zone refers to a particular area within the premises where some practices or conditions are in place. It is usually seen as an area with a more relaxed atmosphere or specific populations of inmates. Responding quickly, officers secured the animal and discovered a plastic, vest-like structure affixed to its body. Inside were 2 35.65g of what appeared to be marijuana, 67.76g of suspected crack cocaine paste, and two sheets of rolling paper. In a video attached to the Facebook post, the cat is calm as one officer gently holds and pets it, while another carefully cuts open the vest. Tucked inside the lining are two small drug bundles – precisely packed suspected to be intended for inmates within the prison. The drugs were confiscated, and the cat was handed over to Costa Rica's National Animal Health Service for a health evaluation, said the ministry. The authorities have not yet established who was behind the attempted smuggling. Investigations are ongoing, including the review of surveillance footage. While unusual, this is not an isolated incident. According to several BBC reports, Costa Rican prison authorities have previously encountered animals – mainly cats and pigeons – being used to ferry drugs, cash, and other contraband into detention facilities. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
NDTV
20-05-2025
- NDTV
Cat Found Sneaking Ganja, Cocaine Into Costa Rican Prison. How It Was Caught
Authorities in Costa Rica have intercepted an unlikely smuggler, a black-and-white cat with drugs taped to its body. The feline was caught outside the Pococi Penitentiary on May 6, after the guards noticed grey patches on its fur as it moved near the prison's barbed wire fence. Upon capture, they discovered around 236 grams of marijuana, about 68 grams of heroin, and rolling papers strapped to its back. The Costa Rican Ministry of Justice and Peace released a video of the incident on Facebook. "On the night of Tuesday, agents from the Prison Police at Pococi Prison managed to rescue a kitten that had two drug packages taped to its body. An officer stationed in one of the watchtowers spotted the animal in a grassy area and immediately raised the alarm," the ministry wrote in the caption. "Thanks to the swift actions of the responding officers, the cat was captured and the packages were removed, preventing them from reaching their intended destination. Upon inspection of the packages, one was found to contain 235.65 grams of suspected marijuana, while the other held 67.76 grams of suspected crack paste, along with two sheets of rolling paper," it added. The cat was later handed over to the National Animal Health Service for a health evaluation. The officials are currently investigating the identity of the perpetrator and whether an outside accomplice, maybe with the help of prisoners, released the cat close to the facility. Authorities are analysing surveillance footage and tracking the cat's movements to identify patterns that could lead to arrests. The case shows how most criminals smuggle illegal goods into prisons via animals. Cats, in particular, due to their stealth and ability to move unnoticed, have been used in these schemes. Cats that are lured inside the prison premises by food or taught behaviour often have tiny quantities of narcotics attached to them by inmates or their outside collaborators. Costa Rica has seen an increase in crime and drug trafficking in recent years. In 2023 alone, authorities confiscated a total of 21.3 tons of cocaine in the country.
CNN
19-05-2025
- CNN
‘Narco Kitten': Cat caught after smuggling drugs into Costa Rican prison
Officers at a prison in Costa Rica captured a cat with two packages of marijuana and cocaine attached to its body. According to the Costa Rican Ministry of Justice and Peace, the officers confiscated the drugs and handed over the cat to National Animal Health Service for health evaluation.
