Costa Rica Unveils High-Security Mega-Prison Inspired by El Salvador’s Bukele Model
Costa Rica launches a $35 million high-security prison to combat rising organized crime, adopting the controversial hardline security tactics of Nayib Bukele.
POLICY WIRE — Alajuela, Costa Rica — Costa Rica, long regarded as a peaceful sanctuary within Central America, has officially inaugurated a new high-security mega-prison as part of a strategic pivot toward aggressive anti-crime measures. The facility, designed to house 5,100 inmates at a cost of $35 million, draws direct inspiration from the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador.
President Laura Fernández opened the High-Containment Center against Organized Crime on Wednesday, signaling a commitment to the security philosophy championed by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. While Bukele’s methods have successfully driven homicide rates to historic lows, they have also drawn significant international scrutiny regarding human rights and due process during the ongoing state of emergency that has seen over 91,000 people detained.
The shift in policy follows years of rising violence linked to international drug cartels, including the Sinaloa and Jalisco groups, the Colombian Clan del Golfo, and the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua. After recording a record 907 homicides in 2023, the Costa Rican government sought guidance from El Salvador, with former President Rodrigo Chaves previously honoring Bukele and receiving the prison design as a donation.
Beyond the new facility, the government has implemented constitutional reforms to permit the extradition of citizens for drug trafficking and terrorism. Recent high-profile operations have led to the capture of top-tier targets like Alejandro Arias Monge, known as Diablo, while authorities continue to investigate internal corruption within the police force.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
