Agents from the Office of Judicial Investigation (Spanish initials: OIJ) arrested a bartender in Playa Sámara, province of Guanacaste, and charged him with dealing drugs at a popular beachfront bar frequented by North American expats, tourists and backpackers.

According to a news report published by Andres Rojas Solano of daily tabloid Diario Extra, the arrest took place at Bar Olas, located about two blocks west of the Fuerza Publica precinct serving Playa Sámara. The bartender has been identified by the last names Ortiz Rodriguez, and he hails from the Caribbean region of Costa Rica.

Not much information has been provided as to the investigation that led OIJ agents to make this arrest; however, Mr. Ortiz was reportedly found in possession of a pack containing 50 grams of cocaine hydrochloride as well as 80 small plastic bags filled with a retail amount of powder. Furthermore, Mr. Ortiz was also found in possession of one block of compressed marijuana weighing one pound and 43 bags filled with a retail amount of the herb.

Mr. Ortiz has been charged with selling cocaine and marijuana to patrons of Bar Olas. The Lonely Planet Guide, a tourism resource often consulted by backpackers who visit Costa Rica, describes the bar as follows:

If you’d like to settle in for an evening of beers with the locals, check out Bar Olas on the north end of the beach. This archetypal seafront dive makes almost no effort, even the beer should be colder, but they’re open early, serve late and drinks are cheap.

In mid-2013, respected English-language news publication La Voz de Guanacaste reported on the management at Bar Olas. Arianna Shareen noted that:

Starting June 1, Bar Las Olas has been rented for four years by Nicolas Moreira, originally from Chile but raised in Sweden, and change is in the air, beginning with a new bamboo-skirted bar, since the old bar was not hygienic, according to Moreira. The place will also be getting a new roof, fresh blue and beige paint and new chairs, a facelift that Moreira said will take several months. He is also adding a projector to host sports nights, movie nights and surfing nights with surf movies and photos.