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El Salvador Unveils Controversial Prison Amid Crime Decline

1/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele inaugurated a maximum-security prison in Costa Rica, Center for High Containment of Organized Crime (CACCO), housing 5,100 inmates and expanding capacity by 40%.
The Center for High Containment of Organized Crime mirrors El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center model.
Human rights organizations report abuses.
The approach has coincided with a decline in murder rates.
Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves criticized the judiciary as corrupt and politicized.

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Story summary

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele inaugurated a maximum-security prison in Costa Rica, Center for High Containment of Organized Crime (CACCO), housing 5,100 inmates and expanding capacity by 40%.
The Center for High Containment of Organized Crime mirrors El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center model.
Human rights organizations report abuses.
The approach has coincided with a decline in murder rates.
Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves criticized the judiciary as corrupt and politicized.