12 Arrested in Suspected Costa Rica Kidnapping of US Businessman

Twelve people have been arrested in Costa Rica and Spain in connection with the suspected kidnapping last September of a US businessman, Spain’s Guardia Civil said.

The businessman, named William Sean Creighton Kopko, who is reported as being the owner of online gambling platform 5Dimes, was kidnapped on September 24 in Costa Rica.

The kidnappers made several threats to kill Creighton Kopko and were paid a ransom of $950,800 in Bitcoin by his family, Spanish authorities said. However, after the payment was made the kidnappers ceased contact and Creighton Kopko is still missing.

The arrests were announced on January 12 after a joint operation between Spain’s Guardia Civil and Costa Rica’s Organismo de Investigacion Judicial, following a request from INTERPOL.

Three people were arrested in the Spanish city of Zaragoza, and nine in Costa Rica, Spanish authorities said. Credit: La Guarda Civil via Storyful