Eleven Israeli tourists were violently robbed on Santa Teresa de Cóbano beach in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, during a social event. The attack involved at least eight men arriving in two luxury vehicles, overpowering the group’s security guard, and stealing their belongings, including a significant amount of Bitcoin. The robbers, some suspected to have police training, wore what appeared to be police uniforms and forced the tourists to move from one location to another.
- Authorities suspect the attackers had inside information about the tourists’ financial activities, possibly from someone close to the group.
- Surveillance footage supports the theory that the robbery was an inside job, and the Judicial Investigation Agency is actively pursuing leads.
- The investigation aims to identify the perpetrators and recover the stolen assets.
The rising complexity of crypto crimes is highlighted in a June Chainalysis report, which notes the increasing challenges law enforcement faces in tracking and stopping such crimes. The report emphasizes the need for more staffing and advanced tools in public sector agencies to combat crypto-related offenses, especially in regions like Asia-Pacific.
