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Costa Rican Authorities Intercept Drug-Smuggling Cat at Pococí Prison

The feline, nicknamed 'Narcochat,' was carrying marijuana and crack cocaine and has been handed over to animal welfare services for care.

Overview

  • On May 6, 2025, prison officers at Pococí prison in Costa Rica intercepted a cat carrying 235.65 grams of marijuana and 67.76 grams of crack cocaine taped to its body.
  • The Costa Rican Ministry of Justice released images showing officers carefully removing the contraband from the animal.
  • The cat, nicknamed 'Narcochat' or 'Pablo Escopatte,' has been transferred to the National Animal Health Service (Senasa) for medical care and humane treatment.
  • This incident is part of a recurring pattern of animals being used to smuggle contraband into Costa Rican prisons, with similar cases involving a pigeon in 2015 and another cat in 2019.
  • Authorities have implemented specialized training and advanced surveillance technologies to detect and prevent animal-assisted smuggling in response to these evolving tactics.