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

https://mins.news/en/item/100611

- Al Jazeera, 2026-10-15 00:24 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/15/costa-rica-opens-mega-prison-as-bukele-model-embraced-across-latin-america?traffic_source=rss

> 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.

## Related coverage

- [Costa Rica opens mega-prison as it steps up fight against organized crime](https://mins.news/en/video/102289) — Reuters, 2026-10-15
- [Bukele unveils plan that could free up to half of prisoners detained in gang crackdown](https://mins.news/en/item/100960) — Fox News, 2026-10-15
- [Costa Rica opens mega-prison as organized crime fight intensifies](https://mins.news/en/item/100470) — Reuters, 2026-10-14