Costa Rica opens mega-prison for 5,100 inmates amid crime surge

Key facts

• The new prison, CACCO, has a capacity for 5,100 inmates.
• The first 123 inmates were transferred to the facility.
• The prison was built with assistance from the Salvadoran government.

Costa Rica has begun housing inmates in its new mega-prison, the High Containment Center against Organized Crime (CACCO), with the first 123 prisoners arriving on Tuesday. The facility, located on the outskirts of San Jose, was built with assistance from the Salvadoran government and has a capacity for 5,100 inmates. Justice Minister Gabriel Aguilar stated that CACCO represents a forceful response to organized crime and a new chapter in the country's penitentiary history, aiming to reduce overcrowding and address a recent surge in violence linked to drug trafficking.