Colombia plans maritime prison ships for high-risk criminals

REMAS strategy prison ships drug trafficking security assistance narco-terrorism

The Colombian government, under President Abelardo de la Espriella, is developing the Special Maritime High Security Reclusion Strategy (REMAS). This plan involves converting official Navy vessels into high-security floating prisons to isolate high-risk criminal leaders in international waters.

The primary objective of REMAS is to sever communication between gang leaders and their criminal organizations, preventing them from coordinating activities such as extortion, homicide, and drug trafficking from within traditional prisons. The initial phase of the strategy aims to transfer approximately 40 high-risk inmates to these vessels, which are expected to be deployed near Cartagena in the Caribbean and Buenaventura in the Pacific.

To ensure total isolation, authorities plan to use high-technology signal jammers to block all unauthorized communications. The vessels will feature modified cells of roughly four by four meters, equipped with bunks but lacking televisions or radios. Inmates will face strict routines, including limited daily sunlight and restricted family visitation.

This security initiative is being bolstered by a strengthening alliance with the United States. US Marine Corps General Francis L. Donovan visited Bogotá to discuss joint military operations against narco-terrorists as part of the 'Shield of the Americas' coalition. The US is also expected to provide $1 billion in security assistance to support Colombia's efforts to dismantle drug cartels. While the government moves forward, human rights organizations have raised concerns that the maritime detention model may violate fundamental rights and legal due process.

Entities

Abelardo De La Espriella · Armada Nacional · Armada Nacional de Colombia · Buenaventura · Cartagena · Colombia · Ecuador · Francis L. Donovan · INPEC · Instituto Nacional Penitenciario y Carcelario · SOUTHCOM · U.S. Southern Command

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Authorities will use high-tech signal jammers to prevent inmates from communicating with the outside world. laopinion.co
[● 9 SOURCES] The plan aims to prevent high-risk inmates from coordinating crimes like extortion, homicide, and drug trafficking from prison. www.cablenoticias.com · laopinion.co · trn.mk · skopskoeho.mk · rionoticias.co · +4 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Human rights organizations warn that the plan may violate fundamental rights and legal due process. www.businessdaily.gr · www.cablenoticias.com · www.capital.gr · www.in.gr · www.sigmalive.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The maritime prisons will be deployed near Cartagena and Buenaventura. www.cablenoticias.com · laopinion.co · rionoticias.co
[● 5 SOURCES] The Colombian government is implementing the Special Maritime High Security Reclusion Strategy (Remas). www.cablenoticias.com · laopinion.co · rionoticias.co · elheraldodesaltillo.mx · de.rt.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The initial phase of the plan involves transferring 40 high-risk inmates. www.cablenoticias.com · periodismopublico.com · elheraldodesaltillo.mx · de.rt.com
[● 3 SOURCES] US Marine Corps General Francis Donovan visited Bogotá to discuss joint operations against narco-terrorists. www.tromaktiko.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.iefimerida.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The US is planning to provide $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia. www.tromaktiko.gr · www.newsbomb.gr · www.iefimerida.gr