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Costa Rica has begun transferring inmates to its new megacell, the Centro de Alta Contención contra el Crimen Organizado (CACCO), which opened its first module on 14 October. The facility, located in Alajuela, is designed to hold up to 5,100 prisoners across five modules, each with a capacity of 1,020 inmates. On Monday, 123 prisoners were moved into the first module. Among them were suspects in the murder of police officer Gerson Rosales Cascante and other high‑risk offenders. The Ministry of Justice and Peace confirmed that the CACCO is equipped with advanced technology, including 24‑hour video surveillance and strategically positioned police checkpoints to monitor inmate movements and prevent security breaches. Minister Gabriel Aguilar Vargas described the complex as “a monument to national security” and a “firm response to organized crime.” He added that the CACCO would help reduce prison overcrowding, projecting a drop from the current 59 % to 15 % once the facility is fully operational. The CACCO’s design is inspired by the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) in El Salvador, a model used by President Nayib Bukele. Each module features high ceilings and elevated corridors above the cells, which hold about sixty inmates each. Cells contain metal bunk beds with thin mattresses, showers, and sanitation facilities but no doors, providing minimal privacy. A small patio area is accessible from the rear of each cell. The complex also includes visitation areas for spouses and other visitors, separated by glass. The Ministry emphasized that the new facility represents a “historical transformation in the administration of the penitentiary system, based on the principles of order, control, and discipline.” President Laura Fernández inaugurated the first module and pledged that the rights of inmates would be respected. She defended the project against criticism from opposition parties and human‑rights organizations, which have questioned the living conditions for prisoners. The CACCO cost approximately 35 million U.S. dollars. Once all modules are completed, the facility is expected to alleviate the country’s prison overcrowding and enhance security measures against organized crime. Article source: De Ultimo Minuto | Image credit: De Ultimo Minuto
Costa Rica has begun transferring inmates to its new megacell, the Centro de Alta Contención contra el Crimen Organizado (CACCO), which opened its first module on 14 October. The facility, located in Alajuela, is designed to hold up to 5,100 prisoners across five modules, each with a capacity of 1,020 inmates. On Monday, 123 prisoners were moved into the first module. Among them were suspects in the murder of police officer Gerson Rosales Cascante and other high‑risk offenders. The Ministry of Justice and Peace confirmed that the CACCO is equipped with advanced technology, including 24‑hour video surveillance and strategically positioned police checkpoints to monitor inmate movements and prevent security breaches. Minister Gabriel Aguilar Vargas described the complex as “a monument to national security” and a “firm response to organized crime.” He added that the CACCO would help reduce prison overcrowding, projecting a drop from the current 59 % to 15 % once the facility is fully operational. The CACCO’s design is inspired by the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) in El Salvador, a model used by President Nayib Bukele. Each module features high ceilings and elevated corridors above the cells, which hold about sixty inmates each. Cells contain metal bunk beds with thin mattresses, showers, and sanitation facilities but no doors, providing minimal privacy. A small patio area is accessible from the rear of each cell. The complex also includes visitation areas for spouses and other visitors, separated by glass. The Ministry emphasized that the new facility represents a “historical transformation in the administration of the penitentiary system, based on the principles of order, control, and discipline.” President Laura Fernández inaugurated the first module and pledged that the rights of inmates would be respected. She defended the project against criticism from opposition parties and human‑rights organizations, which have questioned the living conditions for prisoners. The CACCO cost approximately 35 million U.S. dollars. Once all modules are completed, the facility is expected to alleviate the country’s prison overcrowding and enhance security measures against organized crime.
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