Costa Rica to build massive El Salvador-inspired mega prison
August 19, 2025|3 min read
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The Central American nation once known as the region’s safest will construct a 5,100-inmate facility modeled after El Salvador’s controversial mega-prison as it grapples with record homicide rates driven by drug trafficking and organized crime.
Costa Rica will begin construction this year on a massive maximum-security prison modeled after El Salvador’s controversial mega-prison, marking a dramatic shift for the Central American nation once known as the region’s safest. Justice Minister Gerald Campos announced the project Wednesday, revealing plans for the Center for High Containment of Organized Crime (CACCO), designed to house 5,100 inmates and increase the country’s prison capacity by 40 percent.
The $35 million facility draws inspiration from El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), the centerpiece of President Nayib Bukele’s hardline anti-gang campaign. El Salvador provided architectural blueprints and security technology expertise, helping reduce construction costs from an initial estimate of $60 million. The project is scheduled for completion within 195 days, with specific details declared confidential for security reasons.
The decision reflects Costa Rica’s struggle with unprecedented violence levels. In 2023, the country registered its highest-ever homicide rate of 17.2 per 100,000 people, primarily attributed to drug trafficking organizations fighting for territorial control. Current prison facilities are nearly 30 percent overcrowded, creating conditions that allow incarcerated leaders to continue directing criminal enterprises from behind bars.
CACCO will include 1,000 maximum-security spaces specifically designed to isolate high-risk inmates and disrupt organized crime networks. The government has also implemented sweeping prison reforms, including restricted visitation schedules and limited phone access, mirroring El Salvador’s punitive approach.
While Bukele’s methods have dramatically reduced El Salvador’s murder rate, human rights organizations have documented alleged abuses within CECOT, including reports of torture and inhumane conditions. El Salvador’s government denies these allegations. Costa Rica’s move toward adopting these controversial security measures signals the country’s desperation to combat rising crime rates ahead of the 2026 national elections, where public security has emerged as voters’ primary concern.
Crime in Costa Rica
Costa Rica, traditionally Central America’s safest nation, faces an unprecedented security crisis driven primarily by drug trafficking and organized crime. The country recorded its worst-ever homicide rate of 17.2 per 100,000 people in 2023, with over 900 murders representing a 66 percent increase since 2013. More than 70 percent of these killings are linked to narcotics trafficking.
The violence stems from Costa Rica’s transformation into a major transit hub for South American cocaine destined for North America and Europe. Since 2020, the country has become the primary stopover point for Colombian cocaine, with authorities estimating over 100,000 domestic cocaine users. Small, loosely organized gangs numbering approximately 180 groups compete violently for control over street-level drug distribution and territorial dominance.
Drug cartels have infiltrated legitimate businesses, from fishing operations to transport services, using them as cover for smuggling operations. Key trafficking routes include the Caribbean port of Limón and Pacific coast areas like Puntarenas and Puerto Quepos. The geographic positioning and extensive coastline make Costa Rica ideal for concealing and transporting narcotics.
Despite some improvement in 2024, with homicides declining to 16.6 per 100,000, Costa Rica still maintains the region’s third-highest murder rate. The violence has severely impacted the country’s peaceful reputation, prompting a U.S. Level 2 travel advisory and threatening the tourism industry that welcomes 2.7 million annual visitors.
