Costa Rica to launch satellite system against drug trafficking

SAN JOSE, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The Costa Rican government on Monday announced it will launch a satellite tracking system to aid the anti-drug fight on the seas.

The system, which will record vessels' route, position and movements at real time, will allow the authorities to provide aid in case of emergencies, and reinforce the police actions to seize drugs, executive president of the Costa Rican Institute of Fishing and Aquaculture Luis Dobles told Xinhua.

The system will mainly guard tuna fishing ships and foreign-flag vessels with a length of more than 18 meters in its first phase, and will also cover smaller ships in the future, the official said.

The system will be used at the area of the 12 miles of the territorial sea and 188 miles of jurisdictional waters which include the exclusive economic zone of the country.

The first stage of the project will cost 300,000 - 400,000 U.S. dollars provided by the government, Dobles said.