Ecuador will construct a second mega-size prison intended to hold about 5,000 inmates [1] as part of its ongoing war on drugs.

The move signals a shift toward more aggressive incarceration strategies to combat drug-related gang violence. By expanding its high-security capacity, the government aims to neutralize gang leadership and reduce the influence of organized crime within the general population.

Interior Minister John Raimb said the project is modeled after El Salvador’s CECOT facility, which can house 40,000 inmates [1]. Construction of the new Ecuadorian prison was scheduled to begin in May 2024 [1] and is expected to be completed 18 months later [1]. For security reasons, the government has not disclosed the exact site of the construction [1].

This expansion follows the establishment of the first mega-prison, El Encuentro, which has a capacity of approximately 800 inmates [1]. Raimb said the government has already faced significant challenges in securing these facilities. "When we started building El Encuentro, gang members sent as many as 600 drones to the prison, but we blocked them all," Raimb said [1].

The minister said the government is prepared to further scale its infrastructure if the security situation necessitates it. "We plan to build a prison that can hold 5,000 inmates," Raimb said [1]. He also said more facilities could follow, adding, "If we are asked whether we will build a third prison, I think we probably will, as needed" [1].

The strategy reflects a broader regional trend of adopting "iron fist" policies to address soaring crime rates. By isolating high-risk offenders in specialized mega-facilities, Ecuador seeks to prevent the coordination of gang activities from within the prison system, a persistent issue in the country's smaller, overcrowded jails.

“We plan to build a prison that can hold 5,000 inmates.”

Ecuador's adoption of the El Salvador model indicates a strategic pivot toward mass incarceration as a primary tool for national security. By mirroring the CECOT approach, the government is prioritizing the total isolation of gang members over traditional rehabilitation, suggesting a long-term commitment to a high-security state to dismantle the logistics of drug cartels.