PoliticsCosta Rica opens mega-prison as Bukele model spreads across Latin America

Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez opened a 5,100-capacity high-security prison for organised crime, calling it part of her government’s “tough-on-crime model.” As homicides approach record levels and organised crime grows, countries across Latin America are adopting policies associated with El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele. Rights groups warn that crackdowns can undermine civil liberties, while critics cite overcrowding, due-process violations and alleged torture in mega-prisons.

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AAl Jazeera★★★☆☆2026-10-15 00:24Original