Costa Rica Opens Mega-Prison 'CACCO' for 5,100 Inmates in New 'Tough on Crime' Push

Costa Rica's newly inaugurated maximum-security mega-prison, the High-Containment Center Against Organized Crime (CACCO), has welcomed its initial group of 123 inmates. The facility, built on the outskirts of the capital, San Jose, with assistance from the Salvadoran government, marks a significant shift in the nation's approach to crime.

Images released by the Costa Rican Justice Ministry show the inmates, dressed in orange and with shaved heads, seated on the floor with their hands behind their necks. Justice Minister Gabriel Aguilar stated, “Costa Rica is writing a new chapter in its penitentiary history,” highlighting the prison as a symbol of the “tough on crime” strategy promoted by President Laura Fernandez's administration.

The CACCO, which cost $35 million to build, has a capacity for 5,100 individuals, equivalent to 20 percent of Costa Rica's current prison population. President Fernandez officially opened the facility on October 15. Minister Aguilar added that the prison “will also help reduce overcrowding in the prison system.”

“CACCO is a monument to national security, a forceful response to organized crime, and a guarantee that the state will exercise its authority without hesitation,” the Justice Ministry declared in a statement.

This development comes as Costa Rica, historically known for its safety in Latin America, has experienced a notable increase in violence associated with drug trafficking and organized crime. The country recorded a record 905 homicides in 2023, followed by 876 in 2024 and 873 in 2025. Authorities attribute the majority of these killings to conflicts between criminal groups vying for control of drug trafficking routes and markets. The mega-prison model is also being considered by right-wing leaders in other Latin American nations.