Costa Rica inaugurates CACCO maximum-security prison

Costa Rican President Laura Fernández inaugurated the Centro de Alta Contención contra el Crimen Organizado (CACCO) on October 14 in San Rafael de Alajuela. The maximum-security facility, located within the La Reforma complex, covers 90,000 square meters and represents a total investment of approximately ¢21,000 million. The project was initiated during the Rodrigo Chaves administration and utilized architectural plans donated by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.

The prison has a capacity of 5,100 inmates and features five autonomous modules. It is specifically designed to house organized crime leaders, high-risk offenders, and individuals subject to extradition. Facilities include collective cells, isolation units, medical offices, and specialized surveillance fortifications.

During the inauguration, the use of drones over nearby residential areas sparked debate regarding privacy and property rights. While the Executive Branch stated the drones were used strictly for the security of the attending cabinet, the incident has raised questions about the legality of using state resources to monitor private property and the lack of documented planning for such aerial operations.