Costa Rica opens new mega prison amid rising organised crime

Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez opened the High-Containment Centre Against Organised Crime, known as CACCO, on Wednesday. Al Jazeera and The Straits Times reported that the facility was established as the country faces near-record homicide rates and growing organised crime. [1][8]

According to Al Jazeera, the new facility can hold 5,100 people. This capacity represents approximately 20 percent of the current prison population of Costa Rica. President Fernandez stated that the facility will force criminals to face a tough-on-crime model. [1]

Costa Rica is a country in Central America that borders Nicaragua, Panama, the Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. It has a population of roughly five million people and a land area of nearly 51,180 square kilometres, with San Jose serving as its capital. [9]

Al Jazeera noted that several countries in Latin America are adopting heavy police crackdowns to address security concerns. While these measures have proven popular with the public, experts caution that they often weaken fundamental civil liberties in the region. [1]