Costa Rica locks up first inmates in new mega-prison

2026-10-28 · Security · Costa Rica · El Salvador

Costa Rica locked up the first 123 inmates in a new mega-prison built with the help of the Salvadoran government on the outskirts of the capital, San José, the justice ministry said. The facility follows El Salvador's highly publicized mass-incarceration model.

Why it matters：The prison exports El Salvador's hardline security model to another Central American country, a trend with implications for human rights and regional crime policy.

Key points

• The first 123 inmates entered the new prison.
• It was built with help from El Salvador's government.
• The facility is outside San José.

Sources (original reporting)

• The Straits Times

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