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Costa Rica latest to adopt Bukele blueprint with new mega-prison

Costa Rica latest to adopt Bukele blueprint with new mega-prison
South China Morning Post Thursday 15 October 2026, 03:53 UTC By Associated Press 1 min read
Key Points

Costa Rica, considered for decades a peaceful enclave in turbulent Central America, has now made fighting drug trafficking one of its main goals. And it is turning to one of its Central American neighbours for inspiration in its hardline crackdown. On Wednesday, President Laura Fernandez inaugurated a mega-prison that emulates the Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) that has become a symbol of Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele’s security strategy.

Costa Rica, considered for decades a peaceful enclave in turbulent Central America, has now made fighting drug trafficking one of its main goals. And it is turning to one of its Central American neighbours for inspiration in its hardline crackdown. On Wednesday, President Laura Fernandez inaugurated a mega-prison that emulates the Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) that has become a symbol of Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele’s security strategy. Bukele has managed to reduce murders to a...
Costa Rica (LOCATION) Bukele (PERSON) Central America (LOCATION) Central American (ORG) Laura Fernandez (PERSON) the Terrorism Confinement Centre (EVENT) Salvadorean (ORG) Nayib Bukele (PERSON)
Originally published by South China Morning Post Read original →

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