The story so far · 2 days, October 14 to 15, 2026
One Turn followed this story across 2 editions, from San José, Costa Rica on October 14, 2026. Newest first.
Costa Rica has seen rising drug-related violence. El Salvador's CECOT is a key part of President Nayib Bukele's crackdown on gangs, praised by supporters and criticised by rights groups.
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Costa Rica inaugurated a maximum-security prison modeled on El Salvador's CECOT, designed to hold 20% of its current prison population. It comes as the country fights organised crime after record homicides.
Why it matters: The prison shows El Salvador's hardline model spreading in a country long seen as one of Latin America's safest.
Sources: Reuters · See it on the globe
Costa Rica inaugurated a maximum-security prison modelled on El Salvador's CECOT, designed to hold 20% of its current prison population, as it confronts organised crime after record homicides in 2023.
Why it matters: The prison signals the spread of El Salvador's hardline security model across Latin America.
Sources: Reuters · See it on the globe