Jose Efrain Lopez Mendoza, aka “Dante” or M1, is wanted for drug smuggling by the FBI, DEA, and Costa Rica’s OIJ. He is the head of a highly sophisticated gang of drug smugglers known as Movimiento Revolucionario de Crimen Organizado (Moreco), who pattern their gang style after the violent and lethal Mexican gang known as the Zetas. They operate throughout Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and even in the United States. They traffic mostly in cocaine, but smuggle other drugs as well.
Authorities have been tracking M1 and his gang since 2016, and finally thought they had him cornered in a raid carried out in early hours Tuesday. Seven people were arrested, five men and two women, but M1 gave them the slip and is now at large. Police did confiscate drugs, weapons and money in the raid. Lopez has been living the high life in Grecia, but when law enforcement agents arrived to arrest him, he slipped away and his whereabouts are unknown. Lopez is a Costa Rican citizen.
Moreco is the epitome of a well-coordinated drug smuggling operation. They have their own flag. They have top of the line heavy firearms and weapons. They have a motto: Honor, Pride and Loyalty. They have even adopted the Zeta custom of dubbing each member with the gang initial and their rank within the group. Lopez is M1. They are known for transporting drugs in false bottom scrap metal trucks, or sometimes small planes. It is estimated that Moreco this year alone has smuggled 2250 kilos of cocaine, probably more than any other gang operating out of Costa Rica.
This trend of Costa Rican gangs patterning themselves after Mexican gangs has been observed by Insight Crime, The Costa Rica Star and other news outlets. It’s a trend of great concern to drug enforcement officials in both Central America and the United States.
Lopez has now been dubbed the Most Wanted Man in Costa Rica, and authorities are asking for the public’s help in finding him. He is considered highly dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call 800.8000.645 to report his location.
About the Author :
Carol Blair Vaughn has written for Inside Costa Rica and The Costa Rica Star, as well as El
Residente magazine. She grew up in Latin America, traveling with her father Jack Vaughn,
former Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs, and US Ambassador to Panama
and Colombia. The Star published her book Crazy Jungle Love: Murder, Madness, Money & Monkeys
in 2017, and it is now available for purchase on Amazon as both a paperback and an
ebook.
Authorities have been tracking M1 and his gang since 2016, and finally thought they had him cornered in a raid carried out in early hours Tuesday. Seven people were arrested, five men and two women, but M1 gave them the slip and is now at large. Police did confiscate drugs, weapons and money in the raid. Lopez has been living the high life in Grecia, but when law enforcement agents arrived to arrest him, he slipped away and his whereabouts are unknown. Lopez is a Costa Rican citizen.
Moreco is the epitome of a well-coordinated drug smuggling operation. They have their own flag. They have top of the line heavy firearms and weapons. They have a motto: Honor, Pride and Loyalty. They have even adopted the Zeta custom of dubbing each member with the gang initial and their rank within the group. Lopez is M1. They are known for transporting drugs in false bottom scrap metal trucks, or sometimes small planes. It is estimated that Moreco this year alone has smuggled 2250 kilos of cocaine, probably more than any other gang operating out of Costa Rica.
This trend of Costa Rican gangs patterning themselves after Mexican gangs has been observed by Insight Crime, The Costa Rica Star and other news outlets. It’s a trend of great concern to drug enforcement officials in both Central America and the United States.
Lopez has now been dubbed the Most Wanted Man in Costa Rica, and authorities are asking for the public’s help in finding him. He is considered highly dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call 800.8000.645 to report his location.
About the Author :
Carol Blair Vaughn has written for Inside Costa Rica and The Costa Rica Star, as well as El
Residente magazine. She grew up in Latin America, traveling with her father Jack Vaughn,
former Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs, and US Ambassador to Panama
and Colombia. The Star published her book Crazy Jungle Love: Murder, Madness, Money & Monkeys
in 2017, and it is now available for purchase on Amazon as both a paperback and an
ebook.
