The Brief Federal prosecutors said law enforcement seized cocaine worth $17 million off the coast of Costa Rica. Three Mexican nationals have been extradited to Wisconsin, where they face trafficking charges. The DEA and FBI Milwaukee field offices were among the investigating agencies.



Nearly $17 million worth of cocaine was seized in a federal drug case that's being prosecuted in Wisconsin's Eastern District, officials announced Tuesday.

Cocaine found on boat

By the numbers:

Federal prosecutors said Costa Rican authorities stopped a U.S.-flagged vessel near Quepos, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Those authorities found and seized 840 kilograms - roughly 1,850 pounds - of cocaine concealed on the boat and arrested the crew.

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First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel said the cocaine has a street value of $20,000 per kilogram - roughly $16.8 million total for the drugs seized.

Cocaine recovered after U.S.-flagged vessel stopped off Costa Rica (Courtesy: U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin)

Arraigned in Milwaukee

Local perspective:

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin said three Mexican nationals - Miguel Ángel Campos-Barragán, Giovanni Vidrio-López, and Eustaquio Espinosa-Hernández - were extradited from Costa Rica to Milwaukee and were arraigned before U.S. District Judge Nancy Joseph on Monday. They are being held in pre-trial detention.

The DEA Milwaukee Field Office was among the agencies that investigated the case, with support from the FBI's Milwaukee Field Office. The U.S. Department of Justice and Costa Rican government were heavily involved.

The backstory:

A two-count indictment accuses the men of conspiring to distribute cocaine while serving as the crew on the U.S.-flagged vessel. One count is for possession over a period of time from January 2024 until April 15, 2025. The other count is for possession on April 15, 2025.

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