Costa Rica Unveils Mega-Prison, Joining Regional Trend of Embracing 'Bukele Model' Amidst Rising Crime

Costa Rica has inaugurated a new mega-prison, the High-Containment Centre Against Organised Crime (CACCO), in Alajuela, as the nation grapples with near-record homicide rates and escalating organised crime. This move aligns with a broader trend across Latin America where countries are adopting stringent law enforcement strategies, often inspired by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, which have proven popular but raise concerns about civil liberties.

President Laura Fernandez officially opened the CACCO on Wednesday. The facility boasts a capacity for 5,100 inmates, representing approximately 20 percent of Costa Rica's current prison population. "The CACCO will force criminals to face a new model – a tough-on-crime model. Costa Rica will become a global benchmark for prison security," Fernandez stated during the inauguration ceremony.

Across Latin America, political candidates are increasingly embracing the concept of mega-prisons, seeking to emulate the policies of Nayib Bukele. Bukele has garnered significant popularity through his aggressive campaign against crime, which includes mass arrests and the suspension of fundamental rights. Costa Rica, historically less affected by violent crime than some of its neighbours, experienced a record 905 homicides in 2023, followed by 876 in 2024 and 873 in 2025. Analysts attribute this rise partly to intensified conflicts between criminal organisations vying for control of drug trafficking routes.

The initial transfers of inmates to Costa Rica's new mega-prison are scheduled for the end of October. Justice Minister Gabriel Aguilar indicated that the facility is intended to help the government regain control over the prison system and reduce the influence of organised crime within its walls.

Right-wing leaders in other Latin American nations are also exploring similar mega-prison initiatives. In Peru, President Keiko Fujimori, who took office in July, has announced plans to visit El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT), with the aim of establishing a comparable facility in her country. CECOT has a capacity of around 40,000 individuals.

Meanwhile, in Colombia, newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella included the construction of 10 mega-prisons in his presidential campaign platform. He assumed office in August. Brazil, the largest nation in Latin America, is currently in the midst of its presidential election. Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, a right-wing candidate who advanced to the final round, also proposes building five mega-prisons, citing the model implemented in El Salvador.

El Salvador first implemented a "state of exception" under Bukele in 2022, granting expanded powers to the police and military. While this emergency measure has been credited with a significant reduction in homicides, human rights organisations report severe abuses and the alleged weaponisation of these powers against government critics. The "state of exception" has also led to mass arrests and trials, with hundreds of defendants facing rulings simultaneously, and some individuals detained without formal charges.

Despite the Bukele administration's claims of success in dismantling gangs, the government has repeatedly extended the state of exception. Critics have voiced concerns about the often-poor conditions within mega-prisons, citing issues such as overcrowding, violations of due process, and alleged torture in facilities like CECOT.