Costa Rica opens mega-prison as organized crime fight intensifies

· Security · Costa Rica

Costa Rica inaugurated a maximum-security prison on Wednesday as it steps up its fight against organized crime after a surge in killings in what was long one of Latin America's safest countries. The facility is part of a regional trend of harsher prison policies, including El Salvador's mega-prison, as governments respond to rising homicide rates and gang violence.

Why it matters：Costa Rica's move shows how organized crime is spreading across Latin America and pushing even stable countries toward harsher policies.

Key points

  • Costa Rica opened a maximum-security prison.
  • The country saw a surge in killings.
  • It was long one of Latin America's safest countries.

Sources (original reporting)

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