Ninety-sixth edition of the N&O column / Spooks newsletter

(Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2005 08:27:09 +0200)

Radio jamming | Intelligence profile : Costa Rica
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Intelligence profile: Costa Rica

Background

Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

General

Military / Security

Costa Rica has no regular military forces. The national security is handled by the Dirección de Seguridad del Estado (DSE) / Dirección de Inteligencia y Seguridad Nacional (DISN).

Other security organisations are:

• Unidad Especial de Intervención (UEI)
• Guardia Civil
• Guardia Rural
• Policia de Fronteras
• Policia de Control de Drogas
• Policia de Migracion y Estrangeria

Ministerio de seguridad publica - MSP

• Departamento de Inteligencia y Seguridad Nacional (DISN)
• (Intelligence and National Security Department)
• Dirección de Seguridad del Estado (DSE)
• (Directorate of State Security)

Little is known about the Costa Rican intelligence service. Next to nothing about its history and it is hard to find any reliable info about the current situation. The following is a compilation of info that I have found. The Agencia de Seguridad Nacional was formed on 1 Sept. 1963 under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security. The agency collected information about radical elements that represented potential threat for the Costa Rican national security.

In the 1980's the Departamento de Inteligencia y Seguridad Nacional (DISN) was formed. The DISN is responsible for domestic intelligence collection, counter intelligence, and internal security services. The agency reports to the Vice President and the President. In 1986, the Executive Decree #16,398 of 28-6-85 came into force and the agency subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior, Police and Public Security. This Ministry underwent a major reorganization in 1996 and is now divided in two sub ministries; the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Publica - MSP).

The Dirección de Seguridad del Estado, or Dirección de Inteligencia y Seguridad Nacional , has its headquarters in San José . According to Executive Decree N 23,758 they have regional offices in diverse places in Costa Rica . The DSE Director is appointed by the President. DSE/DIS has the following directorates:

• Dirección General
  (General Directorate)
• Subdirección General
  (General Sub Directorate)
• Asesoria Legal
  (Legal Bureau)
• División de Recursos Materiales y Presupuestos
  (Division of Material Resources and Budgets
• División de Recursos Humanos
  (Division of Human Resources)
• División de Operaciones
  (Division of Operations)
• Departamento de Archivo
  (Archive Department)
• Departamento de Análisis y Evaluación
  (Department of Analysis and Evaluation)
• Unidad Especial de Intervención -UEI
  (Special Intervention Unit)

The UEI was created at the end of 1977 by the Ministerio de Seguridad Publica , but in January 1985 the DSE became responsible for this unit. In accordance with the General Police Law the UEI is a specialized unit that can be brought into action to counter terrorism and drug trafficking, but it also has internal security functions. The unit has a paramilitary character and has a staff of 50 people. Its chief reports directly to the Office of the President.

The mission statement of DSE/DISN describes its tasks as follows:

• Detect; investigate; analyze risks that can endanger the independence or territorial integrity or the stability of the country. These risks should be reported to the President or the Secretary of the Presidency.
• Coordinate external security activities with other international organizations.
• Supervise the security of the State and their goods.
• Inform the pertinent Judicial authorities about the threat or the commission of a crime, and work together with other bodies to prevent crimes or to investigate them.

Police forces

The Guardia Civil (Civil Guard), Guardia Rural (Rural Guard), Policía de Fronteras (Frontier Police), Policía de Control de Drogas (Drugs Control Police) and the Policía de Migración y Extranjería (Immigration Police) are also subordinate to the MSP.

Sources / further readings

• CIA World Factbook
• " Los Espías no Bastan: Definiendo las Políticas Públicas en Materia de Servicios de Inteligencia en Costa Rica " by Paul Chaves (Universidad de Costa Rica)
• Brassey's International Intelligence Yearbook 2003
• http://www.geocities.com/asrwebpage
• http://www.intelweb.es.vg

Thanks to Tony for the translations.

Radio jamming | Intelligence profile : Costa Rica
Index | NS NL Home