Costa Rica Opens 5,100-Capacity Mega-Prison as Regional Model Spreads
Costa Rica has opened a new high-security prison built to hold 5,100 people, about 20 percent of the country's current prison population. President Laura Fernandez inaugurated the High-Containment Centre Against Organised Crime, known as CACCO, on Wednesday. The first prisoner transfers are scheduled for the end of October 2026. Al Jazeera
Fernandez said the facility is part of a "tough-on-crime model" embraced by her government. She said "Costa Rica will become a global benchmark for prison security" at the inauguration. Justice Minister Gabriel Aguilar said CACCO will help the government reassert control over the prison system and diminish infiltration by organised crime. Al Jazeera
The opening follows three years of elevated homicide totals. Costa Rica recorded 905 homicides in 2023, 876 in 2024 and 873 in 2025. Al Jazeera
The project reflects wider interest in El Salvador's approach to imprisonment. El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Centre, known as CECOT, can hold about 40,000 people. El Salvador first imposed a "state of exception" under President Nayib Bukele in 2022, expanding police and military powers. Al Jazeera
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori announced plans to tour CECOT in anticipation of creating a similar facility in Peru. In Colombia, leader Abelardo de la Espriella campaigned for the presidency in part on a pledge to build 10 mega-prisons and took office in August. In Brazil, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro advanced to the final round of the presidential election on a platform including building five mega-prisons citing the Salvadoran model. Al Jazeera
CACCO was built using plans from El Salvador's CECOT prison at a cost of $35 million, according to earlier reporting. IntelliNews Colombia's leader had been expected to attend the CACCO opening. Tico Times
