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SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Costa Rican police seized five
capybaras, crack cocaine and marijuana after chasing down a
fleeing vehicle on a highway along the Central American
country’s Pacific coast on Thursday.
The large rodents are a semi-aquatic South American relative of
the guinea pig and happen to be having a moment on social
platforms. But they are not native to Costa Rica, and the Public
Security Ministry said Thursday that possessing, transporting or
trafficking them is illegal. The agency said it had never
recorded another seizure of the animals.
Two men in the vehicle, who both had criminal records, were
arrested.
“The police action was important and shows the concurrence where
the drug world coincides with the introduction of non-native
species,” Security Minister Mario Zamora said.
The capybaras were turned over to the National System of
Conservation Areas to be evaluated by veterinarians. As a
non-native species they can’t be released in Costa Rica so they
will be taken to a refuge for environmental and conservation
education programs.
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