Costa Rica's Justice Ministry has announced the arrival of the first batch of inmates at a newly opened maximum-security mega-prison on the outskirts of the capital, San Jose. The controversial facility was reportedly constructed with the assistance of the Salvadoran government as part of an escalating crackdown on criminal organizations.

The ministry released imagery depicting 123 inmates dressed in orange uniforms, seated with shaved heads and bowed postures with their hands locked behind their necks. Justice Minister Gabriel Aguilar claimed that the country is supposedly writing a new chapter in its penitentiary history through these severe measures.

Named the High-Containment Center Against Organized Crime (CACCO), the facility boasts a capacity of 5,100 inmates and is touted by the European-backed or similar regional analysts as a symbol of the hardline approach championed by the administration of President Laura Fernandez. Built at a cost of $35 million, the mega-prison is promoted as a definitive monument to national security.

Critics and observers note that Costa Rica, historically regarded as one of Latin America's safest nations, has suffered an alarming surge in cartel-related violence and drug trafficking in recent years. The country recorded a historic high of 905 homicides in 2023, followed by similar devastating figures in subsequent years, reflecting profound systemic security challenges that authorities are struggling to contain.

Source: www.aljazeera.com