Costa Rica special forces seize suspected Hamas operative in rapid raid

Special security forces in Costa Rica arrested a man identified as a Hamas-linked terrorist operative in a sudden operation that was recorded and spread online. The arrest took place on Tuesday in the Desamparados de Alajuela area, where intelligence and security units, together with special intervention forces, surrounded the suspect’s vehicle and pulled him out.

Video from the scene shows armored vehicles and armed fighters boxing in the car of a suspect named Abuawad. According to the investigation, he was not merely a temporary resident in the country, but an official Hamas envoy who is suspected of involvement in weapons trafficking. The report says he had been hiding in Costa Rica for some time while trying to blend into the local population.

The footage shows a fast, professional commando-style operation in which the armed officers removed Abuawad from the vehicle within seconds and without resistance. Costa Rican authorities said the operation reflects their commitment to national security and to preventing terrorist elements from entering Central America.

As of the latest update, the suspect is being held under heavy security, and deportation proceedings have already begun to remove him from the country as quickly as possible. The arrest drew wide international attention and was described as a significant success in the fight against Hamas branches outside the Middle East.