Costa Rica has opened a new high-security facility capable of housing 5,100 inmates as the country grapples with rising homicide numbers and expanding organised crime. Al Jazeera reported that the High-Containment Centre Against Organised Crime (CACCO) was officially inaugurated by President Laura Fernandez, who stated that the facility aims to establish a strict security framework.
According to Al Jazeera, President Fernandez remarked during the inauguration that the centre will compel criminals to confront a tough-on-crime approach, positioning the country as a security benchmark. The facility represents approximately 20 percent of the nation's total current prison population.
Al Jazeera reported that Justice Minister Gabriel Aguilar stated the first prisoner transfers will occur at the end of October, aiming to help the government regain control of the penal system and curb organised crime infiltration. Across the region, Al Jazeera noted that several leaders are pursuing similar strategies inspired by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, whose mass arrest campaigns and suspension of certain civil liberties have gained widespread popularity alongside criticism from human rights organisations regarding potential abuses.
Background
According to Al Jazeera, Costa Rica experienced record-setting homicide levels in recent years, recording 905 deaths in 2023, followed by 876 in 2024 and 873 in 2025. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera attribute this trend partly to escalating conflicts between criminal factions fighting over lucrative drug trafficking routes.
Al Jazeera reported that other Latin American nations are also pursuing large-scale prison projects. In Peru, newly inaugurated President Keiko Fujimori announced plans to tour El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Centre to develop a similar facility. In Colombia, President Abelardo de la Espriella campaigned on a pledge to construct 10 mega-prisons, while in Brazil, right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro included plans for five mega-prisons in his presidential platform, referencing the Salvadoran model as reported by Al Jazeera.
Why it matters
For readers observing global security trends from Pakistan, the developments highlight the ongoing international debate between enhancing state control through mass detention and preserving established civil liberties. As governments worldwide confront spikes in violent crime and organised trafficking, balancing public safety with constitutional rights remains a central challenge for policymakers across different democratic systems.