Costa Rica is nearing the completion of a maximum-security megaprison designed to combat organized crime [1].
The project signals a significant shift in the country's approach to national security. By adopting a hard-line penitentiary strategy, the government aims to dismantle criminal networks that have threatened regional stability.
The facility, known as the Centro de Alta Contención contra el Crimen Organizado (CACCO), is currently 76% complete [2]. Construction is slated for completion in September 2026 [2]. Once operational, the prison will have the capacity to hold 5,000 inmates [3].
Reports indicate the project is modeled in part on the policies of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. While some sources suggest the project seeks to replicate the Salvadoran megaprison model directly [3], others said the facility is inspired by those policies but adapted to the specific context of Costa Rica [1].
The initiative is being overseen by the administration of President Laura Fernández [1]. The government said the construction is a necessary step to strengthen national security and neutralize the influence of organized crime groups within the prison system.
Details regarding the specific location of the site have not been disclosed. The government said the facility can provide high-containment security to prevent gang leaders from coordinating criminal activities from behind bars.
“The prison will have the capacity to hold 5,000 inmates.”
The adoption of a 'Bukele-style' prison model suggests that Costa Rica is pivoting toward a more punitive and centralized security strategy. This move reflects a broader trend in Latin America where governments are prioritizing mass incarceration and high-containment facilities to address rising violence from transnational gangs, often balancing these security gains against international concerns regarding human rights and due process.
