Costa Rican lawmakers have given initial approval to legislation that would allow authorities to pursue illegal mining and other serious environmental offenses using organized-crime laws. All five political groups represented in Congress supported the measure, reflecting growing concern about criminal networks involved in illegal gold extraction, logging and wildlife trafficking. The problem has become particularly visible in Crucitas, a rural area near the Nicaraguan border where illegal gold mining has continued for years. The proposal would increase penalties when mining offenses are linked to a coordinated criminal group. The organized-crime proposal has attracted broader political support because it addresses illegal activity without changing Costa Rica’s general prohibition on open-pit metal mining.